Edisi 26 April 2017 | Internasional Bali Post

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Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Caitlyn Jenner talks of suicide, secrets in new book

NEW YORK — Caitlyn Jenner opened up Monday about her frank new memoir detailing her now 2-year-old transition and the bumps along the way, including her three failed marriages, thoughts of suicide while she was relentlessly pursued by paparazzi and, finally, freedom to be her true self.

And, yes, contrary to the thoughts of many in the trans community, she uses her former name, Bruce, in the book, “The Secrets of My Life,” out this week. And, yes, she describes her liberating, below-the-belt gender reassignment surgery — “The Final Surgery” as she calls it — on the very last page, insisting it’s the last word for her about that.

And yes, she takes on, briefly, her conservative political views when it comes to President Donald Trump and issues like less government, but not so on issues important to the LGBTQ community as a whole, such as same-sex marriage.

She voted for Trump nevertheless, though she feels let down by him and the party in Trump’s first 100 days.

“Yeah, I’ve gotten criticized because I come from a more conservative Republican side, but my loyalties are not with the Republi-

can Party. My loyalties are not with Donald Trump. I’m not a one-issue voter. I believe in limited government. I like lower taxes. I like a thriving economy. I like everybody working, but my loyalties are with my community and to make it better,” Jenner said.

Why go to any of these places to begin with months after her formal coming out interview with Diane Sawyer on ABC, watched by 17.1 million viewers, then on the cover of Vanity Fair, and finally her now-canceled reality show on E! Entertainment, “I Am Cait,” where she went on the road with fellow members of the trans community.

“I needed to pour my heart out on everything,” the 67-year-old Jenner told The Associated Press of the book. “What I was trying to accomplish is, one, get it all out for myself, so there was no other secrets left, but two, it was the way

I dealt with my stuff.”

The book, co-written by Buzz Bissinger (he wrote the Vanity Fair story), has already brought on bitter, hurt tears from Jenner’s third wife, Kris Jenner, whose closet Caitlyn once regularly raided as she stole moments to cross dress while struggling with her gender identity.

They are moments, Caitlyn said, that Kris was well aware of before “I made love to her” after the two met in 1990.

“To be honest with you I haven’t even talked to her about it,” Jenner said of Kris’ reaction to the book.

There were many dark times for the Olympic gold-medal winning decathlete as he went about hiding his gender struggles, including a false start in transitioning in the 1980s.

Jenner took hormones, then balked at that time, but her enlarged breasts did not disappear after the treatments stopped, requiring liposuction as she continued living as a man.

There was one moment in particular, years later, that took Jenner to the ultimate dark place, suicide.

The celebrity news site TMZ distributed a photo of a disheveled Jenner emerging from a doctor’s office after a procedure to have her trachea shaved so she could appear more like a woman. This was before Diane Sawyer and her formal coming out, and it felt like a painful, forced outing.

“It got to the point where I thought, you know what, I know the easy way out,” Jenner said. “I got a gun in the house. ... But then the next day I thought, wouldn’t that be the stupidest thing you’ve ever done, to silence your voice?

You have the opportunity here to really make a difference, to live your life honestly.” (ap)

REUTERS/Neil Hall/Illustration/File Photo

Elton John recovering from ‘potentially deadly’ bacterial infection

REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo

Singer Elton John performs at the Hillary Victory Fund “I’m With Her” benefit concert for U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, March 2, 2016.

LONDON - Elton John spent two nights in intensive care with a potentially deadly bacterial infection and has canceled all his concerts for the rest of April and May, his publicist said on Monday.

The British musician, 70, became “violently ill” on a flight home from his recent South American tour, spokeswoman Fran Curtis said in a statement.

The “Rocket Man” singer spent two nights in intensive care in the UK and is resting at home after being released on Saturday, the

statement said.

The infection was not identified, but the statement said John contracted the “harmful and unusual bacterial infection” during his South American tour, which ended in Chile on April 10.

“Infections of this nature are rare and potentially deadly,” the statement said, adding that his time in intensive care was followed by an “extended stay in hospital.”

John is expected to make a full recovery but has canceled all his concerts in Las Vegas for April and

May, as well as a gig in Bakersfield, California, on May 6.

John apologized to fans for disappointing them, adding in a statement: “I am extremely grateful to the medical team for their excellence in looking after me so well.” He is due to resume performances at a concert in Twickenham, England, on June 3.

John, a Grammy, Oscar and Tony winner for his work in film and theater, is working on a score for a Broadway musical adaptation of the comedy-drama “The Devil Wears Prada.” (rtr)

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Wednesday, April 26, 2017

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FILE PHOTO - A photo illustration shows the Uber app logo displayed on a mobile telephone, as it is held up for a posed photograph in central London, Britain August 17, 2016.

Uber, France spar over whether company is a transport service

LUXEMBOURG - U.S. ride-hailing app Uber told Europe’s top court on Monday that it was a digital service, not a transport service, and that a French law clearly targeted online taxi services, in its latest European legal battle with the taxi industry.

Uber expanded into Europe five years ago and has come under attack from taxi companies who see it as unfair competition bypassing strict licensing and safety rules.

In a hearing in Europe’s top court in Luxembourg, the U.S. start-up described itself as a digital platform connecting willing passengers with drivers and said it does not itself provide a transport service, which would see it subjected to stricter rules.

Hugues Calvet, Uber’s lawyer, compared it to online hotel booking services like Booking.com, saying they did not actually provide the room.

“In fact it doesn’t give the transport service itself,” Calvet said.

The case before the Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ), referred to it by a court in Lille, concerns a 2014 French law on taxis and chauffeured services which makes it a criminal offence to organise illegal taxi services and sets restrictions on the use of software to find customers in the street.

Two of Uber’s executives in France were fined last year over UberPOP, Uber’s service using unlicensed drivers, which has since been suspended.

Uber, as well as the European

Commission, also argued that the French law targeted electronically provided taxi services and therefore Brussels ought to have been notified about it. EU law requires that Brussels be informed of measures relating to online services.

France did not notify Brussels of its law and as such criminal penalties cannot be enforced against Uber, the company argued. It is the second case concerning Uber that the Luxembourg judges will rule on, the other being a dispute with Barcelona’s main taxi operator in which the ECJ is asked whether Uber is a digital service or a transport service.

“PRETTY BIG NUT” The legal tests stand to define whether the Silicon Valley company has a future in Europe after years of battles with city regula-

tors and local taxi associations. Its service has been banned in several countries or cities around Europe after the company lost lawsuits in France, Germany, Belgium and Spain. The court battles come as Uber struggles with a wave of executive departures and criticism of its work culture.

Referring to the penalties foreseen in the French law, Calvet said a “sledgehammer has been used to crack a nut.”

Tayeb Ismi-Nedjadi, a lawyer for the taxi driver who brought the original case, replied that Uber was no small company, so “when we’re talking about using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, we’re talking about a pretty big nut.” Uber is valued at $68 billion and its investors include Goldman Sachs and GV, formerly known as Google Ventures .

France said its law was not aimed at online services and would also have targeted people meeting travellers at airports and touting illegal taxi rides.

Joanna Hottiaux, a lawyer for the European Commission, said it was hard to imagine that people touting illegal taxi services could be so widespread as to require specific legislation. An ECJ adviser will give a non-binding opinion on the case on July 4. The case is C-320/16.(rtr) News can also be heard in “Bali Image” at Global Radio FM 96.5 from 9.30 until 10.00 am. Listen to Global Radio FM at http:// globalfmbali.listen2myradio.com or live video streaming at http:// radioglobalfmbali.com and http:// ustream.tv/channel/global-fm-bali.

2

Bali News

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

International

Bali not free from rabies, but already under control

DENPASAR - All this time, the Bali livestock and animal health agency (PKH) applies the data of dog population based on parameter of survey results with the average ratio of 1: 8 meaning 1 dog for 8 residents. If converted to the population of Bali amounting to some 4 million, there are about 510,000 dogs. However, to get closer to the real condition of the dog population, in 2016 the livestock and animal health agency (PKH) conducted data collection through census approach. From the census, it was obtained that a total of 716 villages are recorded to have 456,100 dogs.

Head of the Bali Livestock and Animal Health Agency, IKG Nata Kesuma, said that since the emergence of rabies cases in Bali in 2008 until now it cannot be released, though it can be controlled where the number of positive cases in dogs is fluctuating and relatively low. The decline occurred in 2016 reaching 61 percent the rabid-dog positive cases reaching 529, decreased to 206 cases in 2016, and in the past 4 months in 2017 the average decline reaches about 50

percent in the same month from the previous year. Based on the latest data until April 22, 2017, the positive cases amounted to 38 spreading in 7 districts except for Denpasar and Klungkung showed zero case.

Regular vaccination is done every year. In 2016, a total of 462,450 dogs were vaccinated of the totally 510,000 dog populations. So, the coverage of vaccination has reached 90 percent. By 90 percent, it should be able to free Bali from rabies. However, the 90 percent coverage remains cumulative in the district / municipality and has not been evenly distributed to hamlet level. “Thus, rabies cannot be freed although it can be controlled,” he said.

It happens because the existence of dogs let go wild are difficult to be caught. So, the officers finally get difficulty to vaccinate. On that account, his agency evaluates and refines the strategy with the approach to make the access of vaccination service to hamlet level by recruiting vaccination officer at village level.

The PKH agency has trained 1,432 village vaccinators for mass vaccination this year. “The vaccinators have a duty to vaccinate door-to-door late in the afternoon in

the hope the dog owners are at home as well as their raised dogs let go wild have averagely returned home,” he said.

Mass vaccination to be held on April 28 to July 31 is an agenda for mass rabies vaccination in Bali. The PKH has changed its strategy from the previous year. It is done by providing knowledge of management for 57 veterinarians of animal health center in each subdistrict to more optimally use the resources and encourage greater community participation. Other than serving as technical coordinator at subdistrict level, they also serve as village vaccination officer.

Implementation of the mass rabies vaccination in 2017 involved three teams where A-team is in charge of vaccinating wild dogs and dogs let go wild; regular team in charge of vaccinating easy-to-handle dogs; and village vaccination team is in charge of combing especially in the afternoon because most dog owners are usually at home and the people’s dogs let go wild will have been back home late afternoon until evening. With this strategy, all the dogs can be vaccinated, and the rabies free-Bali is becoming easier to be realized. (kmb42)

Destination arrangement

Central govt disburses fund at IDR 2.5 billion SINGARAJA - The arrangement of a number of tourist destinations in Buleleng district is planned to be rolled back this year. It follows the existence of the special allocation fund (DAK) from the central government amounting to billions of rupiahs. This physical project has entered the tender stage.

Head of the Buleleng Tourism Office, Nyoman Sutrisna, explained that the tourist destination arrangement in Buleleng is carried out continuously every year. Especially for this year, the program has received support from central government in the form of disbursement of DAK amounting to IDR 2.5 billion. As planned, it will be shared for the physical arrangement of a number

of tourist destinations.

In details, they include the making of 17 changing rooms and or toilets scattered in the former harbor of Buleleng, Banjar hot spring, Sambangan, Pemuteran and Air Sanih with a total budget of IDR 1,105,000,000; the installation of garden lighting at the tourist attraction of former harbor of Buleleng, Buyan and Air Sanih with a total budget of IDR 520 million. In addition, the development of supporting facilities in the form of souvenir kiosks at the former harbor of Buleleng and Pemuteran are valued at IDR 750 million, and development of tourist information center and equipment at Sambangan vil-

lage with the budget of IDR 125 million.

“It is entirely obtained from the DAK fund. It will be allocated for the arrangement of tourist destinations and some amount will be given to tourism villages,” he explained on Monday (Apr. 24). The project, he continued, has entered the tender stage. As planned, it is expected to be realized next July.

“Now, it remains in tender process through direct appointment,” he explained.

Arrangement and addition of the facility are considered very important because the objects are still experiencing shortages. On the other side, the number of tourist visit is considered to be crowded,

especially when holiday arrives.

“Aside from the effort to create comfort, it also serves as one of the ways to increase the number of visits,” he said.

Further, in order that the arrangement measure does not seem wasteful, the coaching of human resources in each tourist destination also rolls out. “This arrangement should be supported by the community and the management must be implemented well,” he said.

Especially for the condition of tourism village, he said to have been running well. The tourist visit is also quite crowded.

Moreover, these tourist destinations are touted to have given a

significant impact on the target of tourist visits set by the government every year. “To develop it, we continuously do promotion, not only through the event in the region, but also outside the region,” he said.

Based on the latest data, the number of tourism villages in Buleleng district has reached ten locations. Considering its function is also important for the economic development of the community, eight more locations will be added this year. “The eight locations have been researched in collaboration with Undiksha. If they can be included in the tourism village, tourism will be more varied,” he said. (kmb45)

Deported from Turkey

Indonesians suspected of being related to ISIS fostered in Jakarta DENPASAR - Three Indonesian citizens with the initials AR, 20, from Kerawang, BSIR, 48, from Tasikmalaya and ZZG, 17, were deported from Turkey and arrived at Ngurah Rai Airport, Tuban, at 21:40 on Friday (Apr. 21).

Allegedly, they are linked to ISIS network, and on Sunday (Apr. 23) they were taken to Jakarta.

“Having been examined at Bali police headquarters by Special

Detachment 88, they were flown to Jakarta for deradicalisation training, leaving at 23:00 by Sriwijaya Air,” said Spokesperson of Bali Police, Hengky Widjaja, on Monday (Apr. 24).

The three men boarded the Emirates with flight number EK398 from Dubai to Denpasar. After that, they got off the plane to the immigration counter for passport stamp. By immigration officers,

they were taken to the immigration office at international arrival to be questioned by personnel of the Special Detachment 88.

Based on the result of the interrogation, they claimed to depart from Bali to Jakarta by Garuda Indonesia. From Jakarta to Turkey, they flew the Turkish Airlines on March 28 and arrived in Turkey on March 29. Upon arriving there, they were immediately detained by

Turkish police for 20 days on the grounds that their documents were incomplete. “During their detention, they were given bread twice a day,” he said.

BSIR said that he took his son, ZZG, who got married to AR (Dec. 2016) and went to Turkey to enjoy their honeymoon. However, they cannot present the documents of marriage or marriage certificate.

Subsequently, they were deported from Turkey because their documents were incomplete. Originally, they were going to be back to Indonesia on April 27, 2017, but forwarded (deported) on April 20, 2017 for not carrying complete documents. After the interrogation, they immediately brought

by Special Detachment 88 to Bali police for further examination. (kmb36)

 Founder : K.Nadha,  General Manager :Palgunadi Chief Editor: Gugiek Savindra  Editors:Agus Toni, Daniel Fajry, Mawa, Sueca, Sugiartha, Yudi Winanto Denpasar: Dira Arsana, Giriana Saputra, Subrata, Sumatika, Asmara Putra. Bangli: Suasrina, Buleleng: Dewa kusuma, Gianyar: Manik Astajaya, Karangasem: Budana, Klungkung: Dewa Farendra. Jakarta: Nikson, Hardianto, Ade Irawan. NTB: Agus Talino, Izzul Khairi, Raka Akriyani. Surabaya: Bambang Wilianto.  Office: Jalan Kepundung 67 A Denpasar 80232. Telephone (0361)225764, Facsimile: 227418, P.O.Box: 3010 Denpasar 80001. Bali Post Jakarta, Advertizing: Jl.Palmerah Barat 21F. Telp 021-5357602, Facsimile: 021-5357605 Jakarta Pusat. NTB: Jalam Bangau No. 15 Cakranegara Telp. (0370) 639543, Facsimile: (0370) 628257. Publisher: PT Bali Post

Activities

International

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

15

Earth Day 2017 Dedicated to Education at Bali Safari & Marine Park

“Earth Day”– the day dedicated each year to protecting and preserving planet earth – was celebrated in Bali, as in years past, by inviting children from orphanages across the Island to participate in a range of activities led by members of the Park’s Education Team intended toinstill a sense of care and concern for the natural envi-

ronment. The children, spending a fun-filled day at the 40-hectare park that is home to more than 60 species, were challenged during their visit to create attractive handicrafts made from recycled materials and invited to watch a demonstration by the Safari Ranger Team creating paper made from “recycled” elephant dung. During the tour, the children

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learned of the many “green initiatives” underway at the Bali Safari & Marine Park obtaining, along the way, a greater appreciaition for Mother Earth and the delicate ecosystem in which we all live.

The “Green Safari” undertaken by the large group of young guests represents just one of many commitments by the Bali Safari & Marine Park that helps to educated the public on what can be done to support and popularize campaigns for environmental sustainability.

Committed to serving both the local and world community, the Park seeks to promote the mantra of “reducing, recycling and reusing” in order to limit the volume of trash

despoiling the environment.

Before leaving the Park, the children made a stop at the “pledge tree” to write down and hang on its branches a personal promise to the planet for a greener tomorrow.

The Operational Manager of the Bali Safari & Marine Park, Ketut Suardana, commented that the activities hosted by the Educational Team for the visiting children increases environmental awareness in keeping with the Park’s mission statement of “A Green Safari is a Cleaner Bali.” Adding: “The celebration of Earth Day is important and deserves everyone’s support.

We all have an obligation to participate in efforts to safeguard our

only home – the planet earth. We hope that initiatives such as these can make a meaningful contribution to the natural environment of Bali.

We remain active participants in creating a ‘Green Living’ culture – a beautiful and sustainable society that can be enjoyed for generations to come.”

“Earth Day” is recognizedat the Bali Safari & Marine Park and around the globe every April 22nd as a day to recommit our support to protect and preserve the environment.

“Earth Day” was first celenrated in 1970 and is today managed on a global basis by the Earth Day Network that coordinates activites in more than 192 countries.

14

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Technology

International

Singapore researchers turn water into “virtual lemonade” but is it tart enough?

SINGAPORE - It looks like lemonade, tastes like lemonade, but it’s simply water.

Researchers in Singapore say they have invented a “virtual lemonade”, using electrodes to mimic the flavour of the beverage and LED lights to imitate its colour, that could one day allow people to digitally share drinks over the internet.

“We are primarily motivated by the fact that our current digital interactions are not supportive for sharing beverages and food, which is something very common in our everyday lives,” said Nimesha Ranasinghe, who led the team that did the research.

The team conducting the research at the NUS-Keio CUTE Center, a collaboration between the National University of Singapore and Japan’s Keio University, decided to focus on the sour taste of lemonade to prove their idea.

A sensor dipped into a glass of real lemonade collects data on its acidity and colour, which is transmitted via Bluetooth to silver electrode strips on the rim of a tumbler.

The action of a drinker running their tongue over the strip in taking a sip causes the electrodes to simu-

late the sour taste, while a light-emitting diode (LED) flashes yellow.

The technology can also simulate bitter and salty sensations, Ranasinghe said, adding that it could help people on restricted diets who need to cut back on salt or calories.

“We can even help the people who want to cut down their calorie intake,” she added. “If he craves lemonade, and can have a virtual lemonade, he can get the same experience, but zero calories.”

Still, the design needs some improvement, said student Genevieve Low, a volunteer who participated in tests of the drink.

“I think it’s definitely the way the tongue touches the cup, because no one would, sub-consciously or consciously, put their tongue onto the electrode and then drink the water,” she said in a recent test round.

Another volunteer student, Wang Pan, was surprised by the taste.

“I was imagining the electronic taste, but it’s actually quite real to me because it’s really mild, like mild-sweet. It’s less sour than the real lemonade,” she said. (rtr)

IBP/net

“Virtual lemonade”, using electrodes to mimic the flavour of the beverage and LED lights to imitate its colour, that could one day allow people to digitally share drinks over the internet.

Bali News

International

Badung designs improvement of road and sidewalk

AP Photo/Daniel Chan

Staff member of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees Izarra Azuddin displays the application “Finding Home” on her smart phone during a launch at the UNHCR headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Tuesday, April 25, 2017. The refugee agency and a Malaysian firm have launched the application aimed at raising public awareness and empathy about the worldwide struggle of refugees.

Smartphone app lets user ‘walk a mile in a refugee’s shoes’ KUALA LUMPUR — The United Nations helped launch a smartphone app Tuesday that allows users to “walk a mile in a refugee’s shoes” by simulating the daily struggles of a fictional Rohingya Muslim who was forced to flee her home.

The “Finding Home” app, developed by the advertising firm Grey Malaysia, allows users to simulate the phone of “Kathijah,” a fictional 16-year-old who fled persecution in Myanmar and is trying to make a new life in Malaysia.

Users essentially take over Kathijah’s phone, answering her calls and texts and scrolling through her photos. In one scenario, she gets a message from her brother Ishak back in Myanmar.

“Kat, r u safe?” the message says. “It was a raid, they found us.

Had to run.”

Richard Towles, the UNHCR representative in Malaysia, said he

hopes the free app will help people empathize with refugees.

“The refugee story is often a deeply personal one and difficult for people to understand,” Towles said. “We hope that this application will allow a viewer to walk a mile in a refugee’s shoes in order to understand what they go through every day in order to find safety.”

There are more than 150,000 asylum seekers and refugees in Malaysia, one of the highest numbers in Asia, according to the UNHCR. About a third of them are ethnic Rohingya Muslims, identified by the U.N. as one of the world’s most persecuted minorities, who are denied citizenship by Myanmar and chased off their land in repeated outbreaks of communal violence.

“The refugee crisis is everywhere, yet we are inevitably desensitized to it as it has been going on so long,” said Grey’s creative director, Graham Drew. (rtr)

MANGUPURA - Badung Public Works and Spatial Planning Agency (PUPR) is designing the arrangement of road infrastructure, sidewalks and drainage to beautify the look of Badung. One of the projects in the tender is sidewalk and drain on Jalan Abianbase-Tangeb with the budget of about IDR 8.9 billion as well as road improvement, drainage development and sidewalk on Jalan Aseman - Pantai with the budget of around IDR 11 billion.

Head of Bina Marga in PUPR Badung, Sang Nyoman Oka Permana, confirmed that Badung district government disbursed large budget in the effort of arranging and maintaining road, drainage and sidewalk infrastructure in the regional budget 2017.

“Indeed, a number of points have not received any improvement yet, such as in Petang and North Kuta subdistrict. However, currently we are still designing road improvement, sidewalk construction and drainage in Badung,” said Oka Permana, when confirmed on Friday (Apr. 20).

In addition to the project, the government will also improve roads and develop drainage and sidewalk on Jalan Legian KajaSunset Mergaya intersection with the budget of about IDR 17 billion, drainage and sidewalk construction on Jalan Pecatu Labuan Sait (headman office - Jalan Pura Puncak Wisesa and Labuan Sait road section) with the budget of approximately IDR 22 billion.

“Other than in Petang and North Kuta subdistrict, the road improvement, drainage and sidewalk project designed in the regional budget 2017 spread almost in all subdistricts. Now, the projects are still in tender process at the Electronic Procurement

Service (LPSE),” he explained.

According to him, the improvement program of road and drainage will pay attention to aesthetics, so that it really gives a sense of convenience to user community. “We do not build haphazardly, the aesthetics are also very concerned, so that pedestrians are comfortable to use public facilities made by government,” he said.

LPSE Badung also features tenders for road, drainage, sidewalk and parking lot of Jalan Pantai Melasti Ungasan with the budget of IDR 19 billion more, drainage development on Jalan Segara Mertha Road, Teratai, Kuta Jepun, North Medco and Jalan Nusa Indah at Segara hamlet with the budget of approximately IDR 4 billion more, the construction of drainage and sidewalk of Tanjung Benoa East Coast (Segara Lor, Segara Kidul, Segara Geni, Segara Kulon, Segara Ening and Segara Windu) with the budget of IDR 7 billion more, road improvement, drainage and sidewalk construction of Jalan Raya Kuta, Dewi Sartika, Jalan Benesari, Jalan Sorga with the budget of IDR 21 billion more.

Not only that, the government also put up tender in the LPSE for the improvement of neighborhood road in residential area. It includes Pecatu village in South Kuta subdistrict with the budget of IDR 11 billion more, Dauh Yeh Cani village (Abiansemal) with the budget of IDR 2 billion more, Punggul village (Abiansemal) with the budget of IDR 4 billion more, Benoa village (South Kuta) with the budget of IDR 16 billion more, Pelaga village (Petang) with the budget of IDR 3 billion more, and Sibang Kaja village (Abiansemal) with the budget of about IDR 3 billion. (kmb27)

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

3

Flood victims of North Banyuning

Surrender for being unable to build a house

FLASH flood disaster last February 2017 still leaves serious issues. Three family heads of the disaster victims in North Banyuning hamlet, Banyuning, Buleleng, face serious problems. After their house was swept away by flash flood, two families still stay in neighbor’s house and another stays in contracted house.

This refugee option is while looking for the promise of the government that will build a permanent house as promised before. Unfortunately, there is no certainty when the government will build the house. The three families are resigned. If this condition lasts longer they are confused because of having no money to build a house or look for a new residence.

Komang Sridana, one of the flash flood disaster victims admitted on Friday (Apr. 21) to resign after the promise of the house construction assistance is not clear when it will be realized. The man working as a caseworker has occupied a contracted house since two months ago not far from the disaster site. In the contracted house, he occupies two rooms with his wife Luh Mertasih and his son Kadek Adi Sastiawan.

Due to the narrow room, their parent Made Candri is forced to be evacuated to her neighbor’s house. “We have been two months in contracted house. The room is narrow and our parent is taking refuge to a neighbor’s house. We have not paid the contract yet but will do it after having a house,” he said.

Sridana admitted to forcibly occupy a contracted house with such restricted condition. The contracted house at his neighbor named Narda is without electricity of the PLN. This empty house has no waterworks connection, either. Inevitably, every day he and his family have to go to neighbor’s house to borrow a bathroom and ask for water to cook in the kitchen.

Meanwhile, the electricity is obtained by connecting cable to neighboring house with the purchase of credit as much as IDR 30,000 per month.

Meanwhile, his parent living in neighbor’s house also admitted to be uncomfortable. His parent known as the oblation maker cannot work comfortably in his neighbor’s house, so that the oblation order is not served. If there is an order, it is forcibly worked on at hamlet hall or his parent come to the house of the order giver.

“It is very uncomfortable. Moreover, my mother is living in a neighbor’s house and when making oblation order she does not want to disturb. Thankfully, our neighbors here are so kind and willing to give water or lend their bathroom to bathe or defecate,” he said.

Similar confession was revealed by another disaster victim, Ketut Yasa. He, his wife and four children are forced to live at his mother-in-law’s house. This family occupies a narrow room every day. Yasa and his family also feel inconvenient as living too long with their mother-in-laws. Understandably, since his family lives together the cost of electricity or water in his motherin-law sharply increases and disturbs the activity of his mother-in-law’s family. “My mother-in-law feels inconvenient as we too long live with her. Since we stay with them their burden increases,” he explained.

The only hope having been long-awaited by Sridana, Yasa and Mertada to overcome such apprehensive condition is the realization of the housing aid promised by local government. Unfortunately, the promise cannot be ascertained yet because the local government is still looking for certainty of the budget source. Currently, the three victims are resigned after getting information if the realization of the housing development assistance seemed to be transferred by the Housing, Settlements and Land Agency to the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) of Buleleng and then finally proposed to BPBD Bali.

“Previously, the land was not ready but we were urged to prepare the land. Now, when the land is ready to be built, the realization of the aid is delivered to and fro. Hopefully, the promise can be immediately realized,” he explained.

Other than there is no certainty about the construction, the disaster victims are anxious whether the value of housing construction assistance allocated at IDR 30 million per unit deducted with tax will be enough to completely build a house. Moreover, the current price of building materials and worker’s wage have increased lately so that the utilization of aid funds should be made properly in order to establish a decent house. (mud)

IBP/mud

After their house was swept away by flash flood, two families still stay in neighbor’s house and another stays in contracted house.

Implementation of e-billing at Tanah Lot only reviewed TABANAN - The insistence of the Tabanan House of Representatives so that Tanah Lot attraction implements e-billing system for visiting travelers is still inapplicable so far. Despite having conducted a comparative study, the attraction management always argues it remains in the study and waits for instruction from the chairperson of the management board (regent of Tabanan—Ed). Previously, there was discourse that this technology would be applied in this

April 2017.

“Not yet, a meeting is going to be held after the series of pujawali or festival at Tanah Lot Temple with the management board. So, please be patient,” said Operations Manager of Tanah Lot attraction, I Ketut Toya Adnyana, when confirmed on Wednesday (Apr. 19).

Further, he added that all the results of the study have been available and submitted to the regent as chairperson of the management board. Moreover, the regent planned to summon the

third party to immediately realize the implementation of e-billing at Tanah Lot attraction. However, so far the management still just waits for certainty from the management board. “We wait when it can go down. We are ready,” he said.

But to further maximize this program, the management asked at least before starting to apply there is a presentation and training for the existing ticketing personnel. According to survey result of the consultant, there are 12 links for placement.

Related to the delay of the e-billing implementation, a legislator of the Tabanan House of Representatives, I Gusti Ngurah Sanjaya, considered there is no seriousness of the government through the management board.

Moreover, he considered the decision to raise ticket price without reviewing of the existing system is a wrong measure. “Actually, the system must be repaired first, and then it is followed by the price hike of ticket,” he said.

Moreover, according to this

politician from Senganan village, Penebel, the implementation of e-billing is expected to increase the contribution to the regionally generated revenue (PAD) to the region.

As reported earlier, the circle of the Tabanan legislators has urged the management board of Tanah Lot attraction to implement the e-ticketing or e-billing system to maximize the PAD of Tabanan district. All this time, the application of manual ticket is feared to enable leakages. (kmb28)

4

Bali News

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

International

Live alone in an obsolete bamboowalled house

Wayan Kerayupan

IBP/Sosiawan

13

N.Korea stages large-scale artillery drill as U.S. submarine docks in South

Wayan Kerayupan and Ni Riri

LIFE of people at Insakan hamlet, Pedawa, Banjar, Buleleng, like Wayan Kerayupan and Ni Riri is very apprehensive. Amide their old age, they have to live alone in an old house only surrounded by bamboo wall. To survive, more often they just rely on the compassion of relatives.

When visited on Monday afternoon (Apr. 24), the house of Kerayupan is located in the middle of clove plantation. The atmosphere is very quiet. Nearby there are only two houses, but not located in one row and still limited by a patch of land. When entering the home yard, the heart will immediately be getting sad. After hearing the story, this grandfather is only living alone in a house surrounded by obsolete bamboo wall and ground floor. Inside, there are absolutely no luxurious goods at all. His bed is just wrapped in a thin and withered mattress. It is combined with green bed cloth and thin red blanket. These are only goods that can warm up his wrinkled skin.

While sitting on the porch of his house, this 77-year old grandfather does not hesitate to share the story about his life. Six months ago, his wife has gone forever. His daughters have also got married. “I live alone here because my daughters have got married,” he said.

Now, at the age that is no longer young, the life of the husband of Wayan Diasning just depends on the compassion of his relatives, especially in the matter of daily consumption. His daughters, in truth, are still paying attention. However, it cannot be done every day. “When having rice, I will cook. Otherwise, I will be given by my nephews. My daughters still remember, when falling sick I will be taken to doctor,” he said.

In the midst of a bitter life, his face still exudes toughness. Not infrequently, he can still make a joke with people that making a visit to his house.

Other than Kerayupan, similar condition is also experienced by Ni Riri, who is also a resident of Insakan hamlet. This elderly widow also spends the rest of her life in a bamboo-walled house. Based on her story, she had actually got married. However, after his husband died, she returned to the family by her stepson. In the matter of daily life needs, she must also depend on the family. “I have no children.

After my husband died, I was asked to return home,” she said.

Meanwhile, hamlet chief of Insakan, Made Sarjana, said that both residents had got enough help and one of them is the prosperous rice. Especially for house refurbishment, she has actually been proposed every year. Unfortunately, the construction is constrained by land ownership. “This resident lives on other’s land so that she cannot get the help of house refurbishment. Hopefully, this will get a solution from the government,” he said.

Both the elderly people have also been visited by the Buleleng Social Services with social care community. The aids given are in the form of grocery and some amounts of cash. In the meantime, their house is still attempted to get a follow up immediately. (sos)

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

International

SEOUL - North Korea conducted a big live-fire exercise on Tuesday to mark the foundation of its military as a U.S. submarine docked in South Korea in a show of force amid growing concern over the North’s nuclear and missile programmes.

The crowded people is praying in Besakih Temple until dawn

IBP/Bagiarta

On holiday, pilgrims throng Besakih to say prayers

AMLAPURA - Holiday is used by Hindus in Bali to say prayers to Besakih Temple in a series of Ida Bathara Turun Kabeh ritual. Pilgrims thronged Besakih Temple so that the traffic on road section to this mother temple of Bali was crowded and moved slowly. Traffic density has occurred from Saturday (Apr. 22) and was predicted to continue until Monday (Apr. 24) before entering the working day on Tuesday (Apr. 25).

Chief of Rendang Police, Nengah Berata, said that booming pilgrims on the holiday had been predicted earlier. Therefore, police together with military personnel, Karangasem transportation agency and management board of Besakih Temple take anticipatory steps. The management focuses on the pilgrim density at the temple. Meanwhile, police, military and transportation agency personnel anticipate the booming pilgrims outside the temple area. One of the measures taken outside the temple area is to increase parking area and take advantage of private home yard of local residents.

“Pilgrim density has occurred from Saturday. They are indeed booming, but they do not result in traffic congestion,” said Chief of Rendang Police, Nengah Berata.

Traffic density leading to Besakih Temple occurred at two road sections to Besakih, either from the path of Menanga from the west and from the path of Batusesa from the east. To prevent severe

congestion, police officers have been spread at the points prone to congestion. Communication and coordination are well done by the transportation agency and military personnel.

“Meanwhile, the traffic to Besakih with such booming pilgrims can be handled, but in the future it is necessary to think so that more pilgrims to Besakih should ride public transportation like bus, do not use private car,” said the Head of the Karangasem Transportation Agency, Ida Bagus Suastika.

Suastika asserted that if every year more and more Hindu pilgrims ride private cars, then the traffic density can become worse to a standstill. Right now, with the addition of some parking lots around the Besakih Temple, almost all of them have been fully occupied.

The quite extensive Kedungdung Terminal at Besakih is also fully occupied. In the future, it will be required to make new terminals and other parking lots to prevent severe congestion as happened at piodalan

or temple festival at Dalem Puri before the ritual of Ida Bathara Turun Kabeh at Besakih Temple.

Headman of Besakih, Jro Mangku Widiartha, claimed to have predicted from the beginning, there will be crowdedness on holidays when the ritual takes place. Therefore, he has appealed the pilgrims to say prayers not only during holidays, so as not to get caught in traffic. According to him, the pilgrims can take advantage of working days, by going together to Besakih riding public transportation such as buses. Crowdedness almost occurs every year in the implementation of Ida Bathara Turun Kabeh ritual.

He claimed to be grateful because Besakih already has a governing body in the ritual of this year.

Thus, the crowdedness happening every year starting this year can be slightly overcome with the support of police, military and transportation agency personnel.

Previously, Operations Manager (OM) of Besakih management board, I Ketut Sumendra, said that since the operation manager worked, the arrangement has become the main focus. As part of the arrangement, other than expediting the pilgrims to Besakih, tour guides also continuously receive training in collaboration with relevant institution in Bali. (kmb31)

The port call by the USS Michigan came as a U.S. aircraft carrier strike group steamed towards Korean waters and as top envoys for North Korea policy from South Korea, Japan and the United States met in Tokyo.

Fears have risen in recent weeks that North Korea would conduct another nuclear test or long-range missile launch in defiance of U.N. sanctions, perhaps on the Tuesday anniversary of the founding of its military.

But instead of a nuclear test or big missile launch, North Korea deployed a large number of longrange artillery units in the region of Wonsan on its east coast for a livefire drill, South Korea’s military said. North Korea has an air base in Wonsan and missiles have also been tested there.

“North Korea is conducting a large-scale firing drill in Wonsan areas this afternoon,” the South’s Office of Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.

The South Korean military was monitoring the situation and “firmly maintaining readiness”, it said.

The South’s Yonhap News Agency said earlier the exercise was possibly supervised by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. North Korea’s state media was defiant in a commentary marking the 85th anniversary of the founda-

tion of the Korean People’s Army, saying its military was prepared “to bring to closure the history of U.S. scheming and nuclear blackmail”.

“There is no limit to the strike power of the People’s Army armed with our style of cutting-edge military equipment including various precision and miniaturised nuclear weapons and submarine-launched ballistic missiles,” the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper said in a front-page editorial.

North Korea’s growing nuclear and missile threat is perhaps the most serious security challenge confronting U.S. President Donald Trump. He has vowed to prevent North Korea from being able to hit the United States with a nuclear missile and has said all options are on the table, including a military strike.

Trump sent the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier strike group for exercises off the Korean peninsula as a warning to North Korea and a show of solidarity with U.S. allies.

South Korea’s navy said it was conducting a live-fire exercise with U.S. destroyers in waters west of the Korean peninsula and would soon join the carrier strike group approaching the region.

China, North Korea’s sole major ally which nevertheless objects to its weapons development, has

South Korean Defense Ministry via AP

In this photo provided by South Korean Defense Ministry, a South Korean navy sailor watches the destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer during a joint exercises between the United States and South Korea in South Korea’s West Sea Tuesday, April 25, 2017. South Korea’s military said Tuesday that North Korea held major live-fire drills in an area around its eastern coastal town of Wonsan as it marked the anniversary of the founding of its military. repeatedly called for calm, and its envoy for Korean affairs, Wu Dawei, was in Tokyo on Tuesday.

“We hope that all parties, including Japan, can work with China to promote an early peaceful resolution of the issue, and play the role, put forth the effort, and assume the

responsibility that they should,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters in Beijing.

Japan’s envoy on North Korea, Kenji Kanasugi, said after talks with his U.S. and South Korean counterparts that they agreed China

should take a concrete role to resolve the crisis and it could use an oil embargo as a tool to press the North.

“We believe China has a very, very important role to play,” said the U.S. envoy for North Korea policy, Joseph Yun. (rtr)

EU warns Britain: Don’t assume free trade deal for the City

REUTERS/Leon Neal/Pool

Britain’s Prime Minister, Theresa May, addresses staff at a GlaxoSmithKline toothpaste factory in Maidenhead, April 21, 2017.

BRUSSELS - European Union leaders will warn Britain it cannot assume its big financial services industry will be included in any free trade deal after Brexit, diplomats said on Monday after fixing negotiating terms in a draft document.

Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May, who will open negotiations with the EU in June assuming she wins a snap election she called last week, singled out banking and other financial services among her priorities for a future trade deal with the bloc after Brexit.

But France and other member states pressed for changes to the draft at Monday’s meeting to ram home their opening position that

any deal to allow the City of London, Europe’s leading financial center, continued easy access to EU markets must bind Britain to continuing regulation and supervision by Brussels.

“The 27 will not necessarily consider financial services in a free trade agreement, as Theresa May has expected,” one said after aides to the 27 EU leaders, who will meet to agree the terms on Saturday, endorsed a draft of the so-called guidelines.

The new draft of the guidelines for EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier will be reviewed by ministers on Thursday and is expected to be signed off swiftly at Saturday’s

EU27 summit.

“There is nothing controversial in this among the 27,” a second diplomat, who took part in Monday’s talks, said. “We found a way to say things so that everybody feels safe.”

Several other participants said that, as under the previous draft, there would be no specific mention of financial services as an economic sector, but that the guidelines for Barnier would stress that any future relationship should not endanger the “financial stability” of the EU’s economy.

“Any future agreement on financial services will be subject to EU supervision and regulation,” one said. (rtr)

12

International

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

BUSINESS Japan’s ageing population 80%

Points of trekking initiated by Putra Jenggala tourism awareness group (Pokdarwis) of Bindu tourism village is indeed a new one intended for beginner adventurers.

Nevertheless, all adventure hobbyist can explore it because of the cultural attractions offered must be different. “Each route passed through will give pleasure because it has a variety of cultural attractions,” said I Gusti Nyoman Suastawa, one of the trekking initiators.

French travelers had tested the challenges offered by the trekking route. They consist of female entrepreneurs and workers. A distance of about 3 km was covered within about four hours. “Wow, it’s very satisfying. Other than seeing the activities of rural communities, we also encounter small animals in the

Aged 15 to 65

40

More than 65

20

0 ’95 ’00 ’05 ’10 ’15 ’20 ’25 ’30 ’35 ’40 ’45 ’50 ’55 ’60 Projections Source: Japan Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

Staff, 19/07/2016 FILE PHOTO: People are seen at Seven & i Holdings Co’s Seven Eleven convenience store in Tokyo, Japan January 12, 2017.

REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo

Labour shortage a stress test for Japan’s 24/7 convenience stores

TOKYO - Japan’s growing labour shortage threatens the nation’s ubiquitous convenience stores, whose business model relies on an army of part-timers packing bento lunch boxes, manning cash registers and delivering goods 24/7. The big three “combini” operators 7-Eleven, FamilyMart and Lawson, which have expanded through Japan’s long slump, are scrambling to ease the pressure on franchisees by offering a mix of financial aid and labour-saving automation.

But their earnings outlook is the bleakest in years. Lawson Inc projects its first drop in profit in 15 years this fiscal year, and 7-Eleven Japan, part of Seven & i Holdings, forecasts a meager 0.2 percent increase.

Japan has around 55,000 convenience stores nationwide - roughly one for every 2,300 people - and each store needs around 20 parttimers to run it. Some shop owners struggling to fill shifts find themselves working some nights as well as during the day.

“The labour situation is starting to get health-hazardous,” said one store owner who asked not

to be identified. Restaurant chain Royal Host and McDonald’s Japan have begun moving away from 24-hour operations, but so far convenience chains aren’t reducing hours or cutting store numbers.

Indeed, all three of the major chains plan to expand. They fear that if they cut back they will lose market share and dent a reputation for catering to customers’ needs at any time.

“We are part of the social infrastructure,” said Koji Takayanagi, president of FamilyMart UNY Holdings,. “We have a mission we must fulfill.”

DWINDLING POOL As Japan’s population shrinks, its workforce has declined to 77.2 million in 2015 from a peak of 87.2 million in 1995. By 2065, it’s expected to drop to just 45.2 million.

The decline has hit labour-intensive sectors such as delivery services, restaurant chains and retailers especially hard.

The worker crunch started last year, said a Lawson franchisee in Tokyo. Foreigners, many of them university students, are taking up some of the slack, but he predicts the shortages will continue “indefinitely.” Part-time wages, meanwhile, have increased, and some convenience stores have to pay more overtime to fill shifts.

“Labour costs are rising precipitously,” Ryuichi Isaka, president of Seven & i Holdings, told a recent earnings briefing. To ease the burden on store owners, who bear payroll costs, 7-Eleven said it would, for the first time, cut royalty fees it charges franchisees - a measure

that will cost the company around 160 billion yen ($1.47 billion) a year. “We want to turn this into an opportunity to boost store owners’ management drive, and attract new owners,” Isaka said.

SAVING THE DAY? The industry hopes technology can overcome the shortfall.

7-Eleven, with 19,423 stores and 390,000 part-timers in Japan, is bringing labour-saving dishwashers to all stores this year, while Lawson is issuing tablet computers to help store management, and installing automatic change counting machines.

The industry also plans to introduce RFID (radio-frequency identification) tags that can track individual items from warehouse to store - hoping this may usher in an era of low-cost distribution networks and unmanned cash registers.

With the government pledging to help roll out the technology by

2025, 7-Eleven estimates RFID tags, which it will trial around August, could save 8 billion yen ($73 million) annually in labour costs. The increased investment in technology is partly to blame for Lawson’s forecast profit decline.

“Rather than simply focusing on increasing profits, we are critically looking at what shape Lawson should take,” said company president Sadanobu Takemasu. “By making the necessary investments we will reap the rewards.”

The labour-intensive business model is not just in the stores.

It extends to a vast network of third-party suppliers and truck crews making deliveries around the clock.

The convenience store industry was built when there were plentiful workers, says Takayuki Suzuki, analyst at Primo Research Japan.

But now it “must rationally look again at its excessive and unnecessary services.”(rtr)

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

French Travelers Explore Trekking of Bindu Village

If you are an adventurer, try to explore the trekking routes offered by Bindu tourism village, Mekar Bhuana, Abiansemal, Badung. This relatively new tourist object has a unique attraction. Aside from beautiful and pristine countryside, it also offers some activities of local culture. Visitors can join the cultural activities of the villagers.

AGE GROUP - As percentage of total population

60

Bali News

International

paddy fields. All people are very friendly and nice,” said Santrine, one of the trekking participants.

They started the trekking in front of the Bindu village hall and then visited the SDN 3 Mekar Bhuana elementary school as a form of caring for school. They had time to introduce French language to students and learn Balinese language from them. Other than the introduction of language, they also learned about Balinese dance. It was then resumed to Subak Gaga while passing the village street.

In the paddy fields, they could watch various activities of farmers starting from hoeing, mowing to harvesting traditionally. Some of them tried to involve in harvesting rice. During the journey, they also watched the animals having been

Titi Banda Statue

Denpasar City has a more magnificent and monumental icon.

After the quite amazing Sewaka Dharma Building as a public service center at Lumintang Denpasar has a magnificent and exotic building becoming the pride of the people in Denpasar, namely the Titi Banda Statue.

The grandiosely standing statue can be enjoyed by wider community at a very strategic location at the entrance to the city of Denpasar from the east. The statue was deliberately built in the median of the intersection of Jalan Bypass Ida Bagus Mantra and Jalan Bypass

Ngurah Rai because it was at strategic location.

The Titi Banda Statue told stories about the Ramayana epic, namely the character Rama who built the Titi Banda Bridge in the middle of the sea with the help of monkey troops that would pick up Sita abducted in Lanka. Titi Banda told about Rama, as the main character who would pick up her wife from the hands of Ravana in Lanka. Rama accompanied by his monkey troops consisting of 18 heads, where five of whom were chief of the monkey. Statue of Rama became the main one in the middle of the building.(kmb)

familiar with the paddy farmers such as dragonflies, lizards, snakes and birds. After that, they passed through a moor and a bridge made from coconut tree.

Then, they returned to paddy field area at the Subak Munduk Gebang.

In the area of ??Tanah Yeng healing center, participants were introduced to the technique of growing crops traditionally. Afterward, they were served with young coconut drink to refresh the body. They were also given the opportunity to have a bath in the river followed by prayascita (blessing) ritual to purify their mind in Hindu tradition.

At that moment, every trekking participant was given tridatu thread for safety. The area of Tanah Yeng healing center is especially intended for the introduction to spiritual self-purificatory process.

The journey then continued to visit Balinese house compound to see and learn mejejahitan (preparing oblation). Ultimately, the journey was ended with lunch serving traditional Balinese menus con-

sisting of satay, raw condiment, lawar (minced meat mixed with vegetables) and others.

Suastawa said that other than trekking, guests are also introduced to culture and getting in touch with residents as the real player of local culture. This program is made on the request of travel agent manage-

5

ment. “This Pokdarwis initiated the Bindu customary village trekking after receiving coaching from the Badung Tourism Office in the form of foreign language training. In the future, it will take advantage of the river at Bindu village for water tourist attraction,” he explained. (kmb)

6

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

W

International

RLD

Trump’s push to fund wall may be delayed as government shutdown looms

WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump indicated an openness on Monday to delaying his push to secure funds for his promised border wall with Mexico, potentially eliminating a sticking point as lawmakers worked to avoid a looming shutdown of the federal government.

Trump, in a private meeting with conservative media outlets, said he may wait until Republicans begin drafting the budget blueprint for the fiscal year that starts on Oct. 1 to seek government funds for building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, the White House confirmed.

Trump, whose approval ratings have slid since he took office, is facing a Friday deadline for Congress to pass a spending bill funding the government through September or risk marking his 100th day in office on Saturday with a government shutdown.

“Now the bipartisan and bicameral negotiators can continue working on the outstanding issues,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement on Monday night.

Earlier on Monday, Schumer reiterated an assertion made last week that bipartisan negotiations in Congress were going well until the White House began demanding money for the wall as a condition for accepting a funding bill.

Although Republicans control both chambers of Congress, a funding bill will need 60 votes to clear the 100-member Senate, where Republicans hold 52 seats, meaning at least some Democrats will have to get behind it.

If no spending measure covering April 29 to Sept.

30 is in place before 12:01 a.m. (0401 GMT) on Saturday, government funds will halt and hundreds of thousands of the country’s several million federal

employees will be temporarily laid off.

Those in jobs deemed essential such as law enforcement are expected to keep working in the hope they will receive back pay. Non-essential sectors such as national parks are liable to be closed and programs such as federally funded medical research will grind to a halt.

Failure to approve a government funding bill could also throw new doubts over Republicans’ ability to fashion a budget blueprint for the next fiscal year or to succeed in a major effort to cut corporate and individual taxes that Trump has touted.

STICKING POINTS Congressional leaders will likely have to decide by late on Tuesday whether negotiations are progressing enough to try to pass a spending bill funding the government through September, Senator Roy Blunt, a member of the Republican leadership and Senate Appropriations Committee, told reporters on Monday.

If negotiations have slowed or stalled, Congress could pursue a short-term extension of existing spending levels to avoid a government shutdown, giving lawmakers more time to reach a deal. Leading Democrats have said they would support such a measure only if talks are progressing.

Short-term funding measures, known as continuing resolutions that cover periods of days, have been used to avert government shutdowns in the past. But in 2013, conservative Republicans forced a 17-day shutdown in a failed attempt to repeal former President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act, popularly known as Obamacare.

A Republican effort to repeal and replace Obamacare imploded in Congress last month and the White House said on Monday that another vote could not come for weeks. (rtr)

REUTERS/Mike Blake

Immigrant-rights advocates protest near the U.S.-Mexico border wall over a visit to the border

by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly in San Ysidro, a district of San Diego, California, U.S., April 21, 2017.

International

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Surabaya police arrest all escaping detainees

SURABAYA - The Surabaya City Police in East Java have arrested all the seven detainees who escaped from a detention cell at the Tambaksari police station a week ago.

“In less than seven days, we have arrested all the seven detainees who escaped from a detention cell at the Tambaksari police station,” Chief of the Surabaya City Police Senior Commissioner Muhammad Iqbal said here on Monday. The last detainee who was arrested was identified by his initials as MS, he stated.

MS, who was suspected of theft, was arrested on Sunday night in his hideouts in Tangkep village, Burneh sub-district, Bangkalan district, East Java, he noted.

REUTERS/Christian Vero

Demonstrators build a fire barricade on a street during a rally against Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela April 24, 2017.

Venezuela death toll rises as unrest enters fourth week CARACAS - Gunmen killed two more people during political unrest in Venezuela on Monday, bringing the total number of deaths to 12 this month, as anti-government protests entered a fourth week with mass “sit-ins” to press for early elections.

A 42-year-old man who worked for local government in the Andean state of Merida died from a gunshot in the neck at a rally in favor of President Nicolas Maduro’s government, the state ombudsman and prosecutor’s office said.

Another 54-year-old man was shot dead in the chest during a protest in the western agricultural state of Barinas, the state prosecutor’s office added without specifying the circumstances.

Seven others were injured in both places.

The latest deaths come amid a month of protests that have sparked politically-motivated shootings and clashes between security forces armed with rubber bullets and tear gas and protesters wielding rocks and Molotov cocktails.

Eleven people have also died during night-time looting.

The ruling Socialist Party accuses foes of seeking a violent coup with U.S. connivance, while the opposition says he is a dictator repressing peaceful protest.

The opposition’s main demands

are for elections, the release of jailed activists and autonomy for the opposition-led congress. But protests are also fueled by the crippling economic crisis in the oil-rich nation of 30 million people.

“I have an empty stomach because I can’t find food,” said Jeannette Canozo, a 66-year-old homemaker, who said police used rubber bullets against protesters blocking a Caracas avenue with trash and bathtubs in the early morning.

Demonstrators wore the yellow, blue and red colors of Venezuela’s flag and held signs denouncing shortages, inflation and violent crime as they chanted: “This government has fallen!”

In the capital, they streamed from several points onto a major highway, where hundreds of people sat, carrying bags of supplies, playing card games, and shielding themselves from the sun with hats and umbrellas.

In western Tachira, at another of the “sit-ins” planned for all of Venezuela’s 23 states, some played the board-game Ludo, while others played soccer or enjoyed street theater.

At protests in southern Bolivar state, a professor gave a lecture on politics while some people sat down to play Scrabble and others cooked soup over small fires in the streets. (rtr)

The other six detainees had been arrested earlier. They were identified by their initials as R, Sh, and Sa, who are suspects in a drug case; F, a suspect in a manhandling case; and J and BS, suspects in a theft case.

Iqbal praised his subordinates for their hard work which led to the arrest of the seven detainees in a week.

He set up four teams consisting of 70 personnel to hunt the detainees.

The teams were led by the chief of criminal investigation unit and the chief of the drug investigation unit at the city police.

“In addition, the chief of the Tambaksari police station also led his men in tracking the detainees,” he revealed. (ant)

11

Jakarta`s voters demonstrate democratic maturity

JAKARTA - Political tensions rode high during campaigning for the second round of Jakartas gubernatorial election (pilkada) in which Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) and Djarot Saiful Hidayat (Ahok-Djarot) paired against Anies Baswedan and Sandiaga Uno (Anies-Sandi).

Jakarta residents were divided and had heated arguments on social media regarding their candidates.

Hoax, black campaign materials, and money politics were reported during the election process, but luckily, no physical violence occurred.

On the contrary, during the polling day on Apr 19, Jakarta was peaceful, and the election was held smoothly and democratically.

According to the results of quick counts conducted by several pollsters, Anies-Sandi won the election against Ahok-Djarot.

The Jakarta General Election Commission (KPU) uploaded the results on its official website, showing 42.05 percent, or 2,351,245 votes, for the Ahok-Djarot pair, and 57.95 percent, or 3,240,332 votes, for the Anies-Sandi pair.

The number of Jakartans who voted reached 5,591,198.

A total of 64,523 joint police, military, and other security personnel were mobilized to maintain security during the election.

The National KPU has lauded the Jakarta KPU for successfully holding a peaceful pilkada.

“Earlier, several observers had expressed concerns over the media that the Jakarta pilkada had the potential to become violent,” Wahyu Setiawan, a commissioner of KPU, stated recently.

However, owing to the maturity of Jakartas residents, the recently concluded pilkada was peaceful, smooth, and democratic.

“This will become a social asset for us to organize the next simultaneous pilkada in 2018 and the presidential and legislative elections in 2019,” he noted.

The social asset is precious, as it concerns the publics trust, he emphasized.

The capability of the Jakarta KPU to provide the results of the pilkada also gained the publics trust, he remarked.

On Thursday, Apr 20, the Jakarta KPU had published the results on its official website.

The results are real, although it is not official, as the Jakarta KPU is still in the process of manual counting.

The runoff was held after no candidate pair managed to gain a majority in the first round of the Jakarta pilkada held on Feb 15, which was contested by three candidate pairs.

The three candidate pairs that took part in the election were Agus Harimurti-Sylviana Murni (AgusSylviana), Ahok-Djarot, and Anies-Sandi.

In the first round of the election, Agus-Sylviana received 17.07 percent, or 937,955 votes; Ahok-Djarot received 42.99 percent, or 2,364,577 votes; and AniesSandi received 39.95 percent, or 2,197,333 votes.

The results of the second round of the election showed that the votes for Ahok-Djarot remained the same as the first round, at some 42 percent, while the Anies-Sandi pairs votes increased from around 39 percent to 57 percent.

The victory of Anies-Sandi was due to digital volunteers who were successful in influencing the younger generation in the pilkada in Jakarta, Siti Zuhro, a senior researcher of the Political Study Center of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, pointed out.

“They have managed to present an attractive campaign package that was able to motivate netizens who are mostly young people,” she had noted in a press statement on Apr 23. (ant)

IBP/ant

During the polling day on Apr 19, Jakarta was peaceful, and the election was held smoothly and democratically.

10

Destination

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

International

The Seminyak Village

MANGUPURA - The Seminyak Village is the latest modern shopping destination to grace Bali’s upscale beach resort area.

Seminyak has long been known as a shopper’s paradise, with its main streets lined with a mix of international and local designer boutiques and galleries, but this new addition tops the scene as Seminyak’s only proper mall. Launched at the end of October 2015, with several popular fashion and retail brands already taking spot on its two-storey arcade, The Seminyak Village is snugly tucked away on a side street between famous Jalan Kayu Aya dining street and the luxury villa neighbourhood of Jalan Kayu Jati.

The Seminyak Village also happens to be positioned right behind Seminyak Square, the resort area’s first modern shopping centre that caters more to casual diners and shoppers with its collection of cafés and bargain-price handicraft and souvenir shops. With these two giants occupying this central junction, thus forming a hub and unofficial landmark, choices for spending your money well while in Seminyak have become even better! The famous sunset beach of Petitenget, with its namesake

temple together with some of Bali’s finest dining and entertainment venues (the likes of La Lucciola, Ku De Ta and Potato Head Beach Club) are all within an easy 300m radius from The Seminyak Village. It serves as a great complement to your culinary adventures in Seminyak, as you are only a few steps from endless choices of world-class dining along Jalan Kayu Aya. Or, after your late evening shopping, you can simply take a three-minute stroll out on Jalan Kayu Jati to chill out at Motel Mexicola.

Throughout the mall’s fully air-conditioned 6,000sqm arcades, interconnected by lifts and escalators, you can expect a good mix of local and international retailers. Renowned fashion brands and designer boutiques include MCM for luxury leather bags and travel wear; Farah Khan for stylish hand-sewn and ready-to-wear ladies’ pieces; and Lily Jean, Milo’s Collezioni and MC2 Saint Barth for fun and colourful beachwear for the whole family. Above is an amazing skylight and landscaped rooftop terrace, which offers views over the Seminyak surf and sunsets. Following are other main tenants. (IBP/net)

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visit to the island won’t be complete without seeing a show, and the best place to do so is at the cliff-top amphitheatre located just south of the Uluwatu Temple on Bali’s southern Bukit peninsula… and at sunset for

Need:Admin,Orsnl.Staff Female/ Male,Single,Min D-III,fluently in English Computer & Internet literacy,Pls Send App & CV to: Ritra Logistics Jl.By Pass Ngurah Rai 168X,Badung-Bali Email:rcidps.hrd@ritra.com

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All eyes on Stuttgart as Sharapova poised for return

LONDON - Not much fazes Roberta Vinci after 16 years on Tour but the maelstrom swirling around her opening match in Stuttgart against Maria Sharapova will test even the Italian’s vast experience.

Kecak and Fire Dance Show at Uluwatu Temple

The Kecak Fire Dance is one of Bali’s most iconic art performances, famous for its dominant use of human vocals in place of gamelan instruments to accompany the dance-drama at its core. Your

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

International

added drama. Usually, the Kecak Fire Dance show is included as part of the package if you booked a common tour to the temple, and which perfectly serves as a closing highlight to your day out in Bali’s south peninsula area. However, you can go just for the show and purchase tickets at the amphitheatre’s ticket booth up front.

Tickets for walk-ins range between IDR 70,000 and 100,000 depending on low and peak season, and includes pamphlets containing the synopsis of the drama.

Good thing to note is that the whole Uluwatu site is home to a hoard of grey long-tailed macaques, which are known for being swift and cunning pickpockets.

Therefore, go ‘low profile’ with no loose jewellery or clothing when visiting the temple or go-

ing on your way to the show, and particularly keep your camera in its bag until you enter the amphitheatre. This open area has tiered concrete seating surrounding its sunken centrepiece stage, and the ocean view beyond is breathtaking. At around 18:00, sunset time, the Kecak Fire Dance show starts. The troupe of around 75 male dancers descend onto the stage with extended arms and shaking hands up in the air while chanting their fast-paced, ‘chak!’ choruses repetitively. The prelude opens the five episodes taken from the Ramayana epic, as dancers in elaborate costumes artistically re-enact the tale with slower or faster tempos provided by the troupe complementing a scene of romance or suspense.

The Kecak Fire Dance synopsis goes that Sri Rama, the prince of the Ayodya kingdom was sent into exile by his father King Dasaratha following an evil trick by his stepmother Kaikeyi. Deep in a monkey forest (which fits in perfectly with Uluwatu’s setting), Rama is accompanied by his wife Sita and loyal younger brother Laksamana.

The evil Rahwana, who had a crush on Sita, knew of this, and set out to kidnap her. The rescuing effort by the two brothers ensues with help from the monkey king Hanoman and his monkey troops. Rahwana eventually subdued, the two lovers are finally reunited right after the setting sun. The fire torches in the stage’s centre flicker against the darkened sky and the echoing chants subside. (IBP/net)

Her 946th singles might ordinarily have been one to chalk off and forget about but standing over the other side of the net on Wednesday will be the former world number one on her return from a 15-month doping ban.

Whatever else is happening on any other tennis court in the world will become irrelevant as Russian multimillionaire Sharapova, who turned 30 last week, resumes a career that made her the world’s richest sportswoman.

Debate still rages about Sharapova’s crime and punishment.

While some say the five-times grand slam champion, initially banned for two years after testing positive for Meldonium at the 2016 Australian Open, has done her time some fellow players are angry the red carpet is being rolled out.

With no ranking after such a long period without swinging her racket in anger, Sharapova could have been forced to work her way back from the lower rungs of the tennis ladder.

Instead, with tournament chiefs and sponsors well aware of her ticket-selling appeal she has been handed wildcards into the claycourt events in Stuttgart, Madrid and Rome. It is not an arrangement Vinci approves of. “My personal opinion is (I do) not agree about wild cards... about Rome, about other tournaments,” she said in a press

conference at the Porsche Arena in Stuttgart.

“She is a great player - I don’t have nothing against her. She made her mistakes for sure. She can return to play, but without wild cards. I know (Sharapova) is important for the WTA, for tennis, for everything.

She is a great person, a great champion. My personal opinion is this.”

Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki and Agnieszka Radwanska have also cried foul, believing a player returning from a doping ban should have to do it the hard way.

Sharapova, whose defence was that she had not realised Meldonium had been added to a list of banned substances at the start of 2016, insisted the substance is as common as aspirin in Russia where it is known as Mildronate.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) agreed that Sharapova was not an intentional doper shortened her ban from two years to 15 months.

While admitting her mistake, Sharapova has hardly been full of contrition and has criticised the International Tennis Federation (ITF) for failing to notify her that Meldonium, a medication she said she had used for a number of years to treat health issues, had indeed been flagged up by WADA as ‘performance enhancing’. (rtr)

Warriors move on with a sweep of the Trail Blazers

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REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo

Maria Sharapova of Russia serves during her match against Serena Williams of the U.S.A. at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, July 9, 2015.

AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, left, dribbles around his back past Portland Trail Blazers forward Al-Farouq Aminu during the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball firstround playoff series, Monday, April 24, 2017, in Portland, Ore.

PORTLAND — Long after the Trail Blazers had left their court, many of Golden State’s players celebrated on the floor at the Moda Center to the delight of a rather large contingent of yellow-clad fans who chanted “War-ri-ors! War-ri-ors!”

The first-round sweep was sweet, even in Portland’s house. Stephen Curry scored 37 points as Golden State beat the Blazers 128-103 on Monday night to advance to the conference semifinals. The Warriors will face the winner of the series between the Utah Jazz and the Los Angeles Clippers, which is tied at 2.

Golden State was energized despite playing for the second straight game without coach Steve Kerr, who has been experiencing a flare-up of symptoms stemming from back surgery a couple of years ago. Assistant Mike Brown has served as head coach in Kerr’s absence.

But the Warriors saw the return of forward Kevin Durant, who hadn’t played since Game 1 because of a strained left calf. He started and the Warriors built a 72-48 lead by the end of the opening half.

Golden State pushed the margin to 33 points in the second half. Curry swished a 31-foot 3-pointer that made it 104-77 late in the third quarter and the Blazers couldn’t catch up.

Durant finished with 10 points in just under 21 minutes. All of Golden State’s starters were in double figures.

“That was unbelievable. Our guys were locked in on both ends of the floor. I wish I could say this one thing or that one thing was really good but everything we tried to do, we tried to do it on a high level,” Brown said.

“It was fun to watch. Fun to be a part of.”

Damian Lillard scored 34 points

for the Blazers, who were making their fourth straight appearance in the playoffs. The crowd at the Moda Center gave Lillard a standing ovation when he came out with 6:12 to play. The Warriors jumped out to a 14-0 lead at the start. Durant’s dunk extended the lead to 22-3 and the rout was on. JaVale McGee made a highlight-reel alley-oop dunk in route to a 45-22 lead after the opening quarter.

“We knew if we threw the first punch, we knew that it would overwhelm them a bit, especially being up 3-0,” Durant said.

It was the most points ever in a quarter for Golden State in a playoff game and matched the NBA record for most first-quarter points in a playoff game.

“We’re very confident about who we are and how we’re going to be successful,” Curry said. (ap)

8

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Sp rt

Griezmann agent confirms ‘concrete’ move from United Manchester United have shown “concrete interest” in signing Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann, who has an exit clause of £85 million ($108.79 million), the Frenchman’s agent Eric Olhats has said.

United, who are fifth in the Premier League, have scored the least number of goals among the top six sides and are aiming to strengthen their attack with Griezmann, who has scored 25 goals for Atletico this season.

“We’re at the stage of gathering information from clubs who have a concrete interest,” Olhats told French television programme Téléfoot.

“There is an unavoidable €100 million (about £85 million) clause so that restricts the number of

Newcastle’s Ayoze Perez celebrates scoring their first goal

candidates. You have United, (Manchester) City, Chelsea, Barcelona and Real Madrid. “United were the first to come and see us and the most concrete in their wishes.”

United’s attacking options are limited with top goalscorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic ruled out for the season after sustaining a serious knee injury in their Europa League tie against Anderlecht.

Injured midfielder Juan Mata is the next highest scorer this season for the club with six strikes while 19-year-old striker Marcus Rashford has five.

United travel to face local rivals Manchester City on Thursday as both teams aim to secure a top four finish for a Champions League berth.(rtr)

Action Images via Reuters / Lee Smith

Newcastle seals immediate return to English Premier League

NEWCASTLE — After one season in the English Championship, Newcastle United secured an immediate return to the Premier League by beating Preston North End 4-1 on Monday.

Under Rafa Benitez, the former Liverpool manager who won the Champions League during his time at Anfield, Newcastle enjoyed an impressive season although two defeats and a draw in its last three league games led to a few nerves at the north-east club.

One of England’s best supported clubs which regularly attracts crowds more than 50,000 for home games, Newcastle sealed promotion with two matches remaining. Championship leader Brighton and Hove Albion secured one of the two automatic promotion places a week ago. Brighton leads Newcastle by four points.

Benitez was unable to save Newcastle from relegation last season after being appointed for the last

10 games, but decided not to activate a clause in his three-year contract allowing him to leave if the club was demoted.

The former Real Madrid manager, after meetings with owner Mike Ashley and managing director Lee Charnley, announced his intention to stay in May and his decision has been vindicated.

Despite selling Dutch midfielder Gini Wijnaldum to Liverpool for a reported 25 million pounds following relegation, Benitez has acted astutely in the transfer market.

The signings of striker Dwight Gayle from Crystal Palace and Scotland winger Matt Ritchie from Bournemouth have paid dividends, with Gayle scoring 22 league goals and Ritchie 12.

An awful start to the season when Newcastle lost its opening two league games was quickly erased with five successive wins, creating a momentum that stalled only in the past month, on the verge of promotion. It got there in the end. (ap)

REUTERS/Albert Gea

Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann celebrates a goal.

9

Four-goal Roma condemn Pescara to Serie B

MILAN - AS Roma’s Mohamed Salah scored twice in a 4-1 win at Pescara on Monday which kept alive their faint hopes of catching Serie A leaders Juventus and condemned their opponents to relegation.

Second-placed Roma are eight points behind Juve with five matches to play including a meeting between the pair at the Stadio Olimpico.

Bottom side Pescara are down after one season in the top flight as the defeat left them 15 points adrift of 17th-placed Empoli, the team immediately above the drop

zone, but with a worse head-tohead record.

Roma moved four points clear of third-placed Napoli in the race for Italy’s second automatic slot in nesxt season’s Champions League group stage.

The only sour note for Roma was that Edin Dzeko, Serie A’s joint leading scorer with 25 goals, reacted angrily to being substituted in the second half and refused to shake coach Luciano Spalletti’s hand.

Roma missed a host of chances before Kevin Strootman tapped in Stephan El Shaarawy’s pass to give them the lead in the 43rd minute

and Radja Nainggolan added another two minutes later.

Three minutes into the second half, Salah curled home a delightful effort from the edge of the area and the Egyptian struck again on the hour, finishing off a counterattack.

Ahmed Benali pulled one back for the Dolphins, who will play in Serie B next season, with seven minutes left.

His goal took the weekend’s tally to a remarkable 48 goals in 10 matches, the highest for a single round in Serie A since October 1992. (rtr)

Wenger says Arsenal must ‘fight like mad’ for top-four finish

Arsenal will need to show consistency in their final seven Premier League matches if they are to qualify for next season’s Champions League, manager Arsene Wenger has said. The North London club have seven games to go, are seventh in the league and seven points behind fourth-placed Manchester City, who have played one more game than them.

“We have to fight like mad to win our games,” the Frenchman told a news conference before they host 15th-placed Leicester City in the league on Wednesday. Wenger has led his side to a top-four finish every season since joining the club in 1996.

“The door is open but it demands a consistency from us,” Wenger said. “It is still possible, but we need a near perfect run-in. We need to keep the level of desire and hunger for every game of the season.”

The British media reported on Monday that French club Olympique de Marseille are looking

to sign Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud at the end of the season.

Wenger, however, said he had heard no such thing and the 30-year-old France international signed a contract in January which keeps him at the Emirates until 2020. “I have had no approach from Marseille, and we want to keep Olivier Giroud at the club.”

The 67-year-old Wenger, whose own contract expires at the end of the season, gave no updates on his future but said he was evaluating transfer targets for Arsenal’s next campaign. “Yes, of course.

I work until the last day of the season for the present and the future.

“What happens with me is a bit secondary, what is important is the future of the club.” Following the Leicester encounter, Arsenal travel on Sunday to their north London rivals, second-placed Tottenham Hotspur. (rtr)

REUTERS/Alberto Lingria

AS Roma’s Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring third goal.

8

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Sp rt

Griezmann agent confirms ‘concrete’ move from United Manchester United have shown “concrete interest” in signing Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann, who has an exit clause of £85 million ($108.79 million), the Frenchman’s agent Eric Olhats has said.

United, who are fifth in the Premier League, have scored the least number of goals among the top six sides and are aiming to strengthen their attack with Griezmann, who has scored 25 goals for Atletico this season.

“We’re at the stage of gathering information from clubs who have a concrete interest,” Olhats told French television programme Téléfoot.

“There is an unavoidable €100 million (about £85 million) clause so that restricts the number of

Newcastle’s Ayoze Perez celebrates scoring their first goal

candidates. You have United, (Manchester) City, Chelsea, Barcelona and Real Madrid. “United were the first to come and see us and the most concrete in their wishes.”

United’s attacking options are limited with top goalscorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic ruled out for the season after sustaining a serious knee injury in their Europa League tie against Anderlecht.

Injured midfielder Juan Mata is the next highest scorer this season for the club with six strikes while 19-year-old striker Marcus Rashford has five.

United travel to face local rivals Manchester City on Thursday as both teams aim to secure a top four finish for a Champions League berth.(rtr)

Action Images via Reuters / Lee Smith

Newcastle seals immediate return to English Premier League

NEWCASTLE — After one season in the English Championship, Newcastle United secured an immediate return to the Premier League by beating Preston North End 4-1 on Monday.

Under Rafa Benitez, the former Liverpool manager who won the Champions League during his time at Anfield, Newcastle enjoyed an impressive season although two defeats and a draw in its last three league games led to a few nerves at the north-east club.

One of England’s best supported clubs which regularly attracts crowds more than 50,000 for home games, Newcastle sealed promotion with two matches remaining. Championship leader Brighton and Hove Albion secured one of the two automatic promotion places a week ago. Brighton leads Newcastle by four points.

Benitez was unable to save Newcastle from relegation last season after being appointed for the last

10 games, but decided not to activate a clause in his three-year contract allowing him to leave if the club was demoted.

The former Real Madrid manager, after meetings with owner Mike Ashley and managing director Lee Charnley, announced his intention to stay in May and his decision has been vindicated.

Despite selling Dutch midfielder Gini Wijnaldum to Liverpool for a reported 25 million pounds following relegation, Benitez has acted astutely in the transfer market.

The signings of striker Dwight Gayle from Crystal Palace and Scotland winger Matt Ritchie from Bournemouth have paid dividends, with Gayle scoring 22 league goals and Ritchie 12.

An awful start to the season when Newcastle lost its opening two league games was quickly erased with five successive wins, creating a momentum that stalled only in the past month, on the verge of promotion. It got there in the end. (ap)

REUTERS/Albert Gea

Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann celebrates a goal.

9

Four-goal Roma condemn Pescara to Serie B

MILAN - AS Roma’s Mohamed Salah scored twice in a 4-1 win at Pescara on Monday which kept alive their faint hopes of catching Serie A leaders Juventus and condemned their opponents to relegation.

Second-placed Roma are eight points behind Juve with five matches to play including a meeting between the pair at the Stadio Olimpico.

Bottom side Pescara are down after one season in the top flight as the defeat left them 15 points adrift of 17th-placed Empoli, the team immediately above the drop

zone, but with a worse head-tohead record.

Roma moved four points clear of third-placed Napoli in the race for Italy’s second automatic slot in nesxt season’s Champions League group stage.

The only sour note for Roma was that Edin Dzeko, Serie A’s joint leading scorer with 25 goals, reacted angrily to being substituted in the second half and refused to shake coach Luciano Spalletti’s hand.

Roma missed a host of chances before Kevin Strootman tapped in Stephan El Shaarawy’s pass to give them the lead in the 43rd minute

and Radja Nainggolan added another two minutes later.

Three minutes into the second half, Salah curled home a delightful effort from the edge of the area and the Egyptian struck again on the hour, finishing off a counterattack.

Ahmed Benali pulled one back for the Dolphins, who will play in Serie B next season, with seven minutes left.

His goal took the weekend’s tally to a remarkable 48 goals in 10 matches, the highest for a single round in Serie A since October 1992. (rtr)

Wenger says Arsenal must ‘fight like mad’ for top-four finish

Arsenal will need to show consistency in their final seven Premier League matches if they are to qualify for next season’s Champions League, manager Arsene Wenger has said. The North London club have seven games to go, are seventh in the league and seven points behind fourth-placed Manchester City, who have played one more game than them.

“We have to fight like mad to win our games,” the Frenchman told a news conference before they host 15th-placed Leicester City in the league on Wednesday. Wenger has led his side to a top-four finish every season since joining the club in 1996.

“The door is open but it demands a consistency from us,” Wenger said. “It is still possible, but we need a near perfect run-in. We need to keep the level of desire and hunger for every game of the season.”

The British media reported on Monday that French club Olympique de Marseille are looking

to sign Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud at the end of the season.

Wenger, however, said he had heard no such thing and the 30-year-old France international signed a contract in January which keeps him at the Emirates until 2020. “I have had no approach from Marseille, and we want to keep Olivier Giroud at the club.”

The 67-year-old Wenger, whose own contract expires at the end of the season, gave no updates on his future but said he was evaluating transfer targets for Arsenal’s next campaign. “Yes, of course.

I work until the last day of the season for the present and the future.

“What happens with me is a bit secondary, what is important is the future of the club.” Following the Leicester encounter, Arsenal travel on Sunday to their north London rivals, second-placed Tottenham Hotspur. (rtr)

REUTERS/Alberto Lingria

AS Roma’s Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring third goal.

10

Destination

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

International

The Seminyak Village

MANGUPURA - The Seminyak Village is the latest modern shopping destination to grace Bali’s upscale beach resort area.

Seminyak has long been known as a shopper’s paradise, with its main streets lined with a mix of international and local designer boutiques and galleries, but this new addition tops the scene as Seminyak’s only proper mall. Launched at the end of October 2015, with several popular fashion and retail brands already taking spot on its two-storey arcade, The Seminyak Village is snugly tucked away on a side street between famous Jalan Kayu Aya dining street and the luxury villa neighbourhood of Jalan Kayu Jati.

The Seminyak Village also happens to be positioned right behind Seminyak Square, the resort area’s first modern shopping centre that caters more to casual diners and shoppers with its collection of cafés and bargain-price handicraft and souvenir shops. With these two giants occupying this central junction, thus forming a hub and unofficial landmark, choices for spending your money well while in Seminyak have become even better! The famous sunset beach of Petitenget, with its namesake

temple together with some of Bali’s finest dining and entertainment venues (the likes of La Lucciola, Ku De Ta and Potato Head Beach Club) are all within an easy 300m radius from The Seminyak Village. It serves as a great complement to your culinary adventures in Seminyak, as you are only a few steps from endless choices of world-class dining along Jalan Kayu Aya. Or, after your late evening shopping, you can simply take a three-minute stroll out on Jalan Kayu Jati to chill out at Motel Mexicola.

Throughout the mall’s fully air-conditioned 6,000sqm arcades, interconnected by lifts and escalators, you can expect a good mix of local and international retailers. Renowned fashion brands and designer boutiques include MCM for luxury leather bags and travel wear; Farah Khan for stylish hand-sewn and ready-to-wear ladies’ pieces; and Lily Jean, Milo’s Collezioni and MC2 Saint Barth for fun and colourful beachwear for the whole family. Above is an amazing skylight and landscaped rooftop terrace, which offers views over the Seminyak surf and sunsets. Following are other main tenants. (IBP/net)

Travel Agent bth Staff Reservation/Acct AdminSend CV:madehil ly@yahoo.com.au T.287555

B.BP.001.04.17.0001362

Wedding Company with friendly work environment looking for customer service.Speak & write basic English,organized & motivated,computer literate. An attraktive & competitive pay will be oppered.Please send CV to: idoidobali@gmail.com

B.BP.154.04.17.0001675

visit to the island won’t be complete without seeing a show, and the best place to do so is at the cliff-top amphitheatre located just south of the Uluwatu Temple on Bali’s southern Bukit peninsula… and at sunset for

Need:Admin,Orsnl.Staff Female/ Male,Single,Min D-III,fluently in English Computer & Internet literacy,Pls Send App & CV to: Ritra Logistics Jl.By Pass Ngurah Rai 168X,Badung-Bali Email:rcidps.hrd@ritra.com

B.BP.001.04.17.0001687

Lajoya Bungalow in Balangan Area Looking for HRD and Legality Staff,Please Send CV to accounting@la-joya.com or Call 081370882372

B.BP.001.04.17.0001659

All eyes on Stuttgart as Sharapova poised for return

LONDON - Not much fazes Roberta Vinci after 16 years on Tour but the maelstrom swirling around her opening match in Stuttgart against Maria Sharapova will test even the Italian’s vast experience.

Kecak and Fire Dance Show at Uluwatu Temple

The Kecak Fire Dance is one of Bali’s most iconic art performances, famous for its dominant use of human vocals in place of gamelan instruments to accompany the dance-drama at its core. Your

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

International

added drama. Usually, the Kecak Fire Dance show is included as part of the package if you booked a common tour to the temple, and which perfectly serves as a closing highlight to your day out in Bali’s south peninsula area. However, you can go just for the show and purchase tickets at the amphitheatre’s ticket booth up front.

Tickets for walk-ins range between IDR 70,000 and 100,000 depending on low and peak season, and includes pamphlets containing the synopsis of the drama.

Good thing to note is that the whole Uluwatu site is home to a hoard of grey long-tailed macaques, which are known for being swift and cunning pickpockets.

Therefore, go ‘low profile’ with no loose jewellery or clothing when visiting the temple or go-

ing on your way to the show, and particularly keep your camera in its bag until you enter the amphitheatre. This open area has tiered concrete seating surrounding its sunken centrepiece stage, and the ocean view beyond is breathtaking. At around 18:00, sunset time, the Kecak Fire Dance show starts. The troupe of around 75 male dancers descend onto the stage with extended arms and shaking hands up in the air while chanting their fast-paced, ‘chak!’ choruses repetitively. The prelude opens the five episodes taken from the Ramayana epic, as dancers in elaborate costumes artistically re-enact the tale with slower or faster tempos provided by the troupe complementing a scene of romance or suspense.

The Kecak Fire Dance synopsis goes that Sri Rama, the prince of the Ayodya kingdom was sent into exile by his father King Dasaratha following an evil trick by his stepmother Kaikeyi. Deep in a monkey forest (which fits in perfectly with Uluwatu’s setting), Rama is accompanied by his wife Sita and loyal younger brother Laksamana.

The evil Rahwana, who had a crush on Sita, knew of this, and set out to kidnap her. The rescuing effort by the two brothers ensues with help from the monkey king Hanoman and his monkey troops. Rahwana eventually subdued, the two lovers are finally reunited right after the setting sun. The fire torches in the stage’s centre flicker against the darkened sky and the echoing chants subside. (IBP/net)

Her 946th singles might ordinarily have been one to chalk off and forget about but standing over the other side of the net on Wednesday will be the former world number one on her return from a 15-month doping ban.

Whatever else is happening on any other tennis court in the world will become irrelevant as Russian multimillionaire Sharapova, who turned 30 last week, resumes a career that made her the world’s richest sportswoman.

Debate still rages about Sharapova’s crime and punishment.

While some say the five-times grand slam champion, initially banned for two years after testing positive for Meldonium at the 2016 Australian Open, has done her time some fellow players are angry the red carpet is being rolled out.

With no ranking after such a long period without swinging her racket in anger, Sharapova could have been forced to work her way back from the lower rungs of the tennis ladder.

Instead, with tournament chiefs and sponsors well aware of her ticket-selling appeal she has been handed wildcards into the claycourt events in Stuttgart, Madrid and Rome. It is not an arrangement Vinci approves of. “My personal opinion is (I do) not agree about wild cards... about Rome, about other tournaments,” she said in a press

conference at the Porsche Arena in Stuttgart.

“She is a great player - I don’t have nothing against her. She made her mistakes for sure. She can return to play, but without wild cards. I know (Sharapova) is important for the WTA, for tennis, for everything.

She is a great person, a great champion. My personal opinion is this.”

Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki and Agnieszka Radwanska have also cried foul, believing a player returning from a doping ban should have to do it the hard way.

Sharapova, whose defence was that she had not realised Meldonium had been added to a list of banned substances at the start of 2016, insisted the substance is as common as aspirin in Russia where it is known as Mildronate.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) agreed that Sharapova was not an intentional doper shortened her ban from two years to 15 months.

While admitting her mistake, Sharapova has hardly been full of contrition and has criticised the International Tennis Federation (ITF) for failing to notify her that Meldonium, a medication she said she had used for a number of years to treat health issues, had indeed been flagged up by WADA as ‘performance enhancing’. (rtr)

Warriors move on with a sweep of the Trail Blazers

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Maria Sharapova of Russia serves during her match against Serena Williams of the U.S.A. at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, July 9, 2015.

AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, left, dribbles around his back past Portland Trail Blazers forward Al-Farouq Aminu during the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball firstround playoff series, Monday, April 24, 2017, in Portland, Ore.

PORTLAND — Long after the Trail Blazers had left their court, many of Golden State’s players celebrated on the floor at the Moda Center to the delight of a rather large contingent of yellow-clad fans who chanted “War-ri-ors! War-ri-ors!”

The first-round sweep was sweet, even in Portland’s house. Stephen Curry scored 37 points as Golden State beat the Blazers 128-103 on Monday night to advance to the conference semifinals. The Warriors will face the winner of the series between the Utah Jazz and the Los Angeles Clippers, which is tied at 2.

Golden State was energized despite playing for the second straight game without coach Steve Kerr, who has been experiencing a flare-up of symptoms stemming from back surgery a couple of years ago. Assistant Mike Brown has served as head coach in Kerr’s absence.

But the Warriors saw the return of forward Kevin Durant, who hadn’t played since Game 1 because of a strained left calf. He started and the Warriors built a 72-48 lead by the end of the opening half.

Golden State pushed the margin to 33 points in the second half. Curry swished a 31-foot 3-pointer that made it 104-77 late in the third quarter and the Blazers couldn’t catch up.

Durant finished with 10 points in just under 21 minutes. All of Golden State’s starters were in double figures.

“That was unbelievable. Our guys were locked in on both ends of the floor. I wish I could say this one thing or that one thing was really good but everything we tried to do, we tried to do it on a high level,” Brown said.

“It was fun to watch. Fun to be a part of.”

Damian Lillard scored 34 points

for the Blazers, who were making their fourth straight appearance in the playoffs. The crowd at the Moda Center gave Lillard a standing ovation when he came out with 6:12 to play. The Warriors jumped out to a 14-0 lead at the start. Durant’s dunk extended the lead to 22-3 and the rout was on. JaVale McGee made a highlight-reel alley-oop dunk in route to a 45-22 lead after the opening quarter.

“We knew if we threw the first punch, we knew that it would overwhelm them a bit, especially being up 3-0,” Durant said.

It was the most points ever in a quarter for Golden State in a playoff game and matched the NBA record for most first-quarter points in a playoff game.

“We’re very confident about who we are and how we’re going to be successful,” Curry said. (ap)

6

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

W

International

RLD

Trump’s push to fund wall may be delayed as government shutdown looms

WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump indicated an openness on Monday to delaying his push to secure funds for his promised border wall with Mexico, potentially eliminating a sticking point as lawmakers worked to avoid a looming shutdown of the federal government.

Trump, in a private meeting with conservative media outlets, said he may wait until Republicans begin drafting the budget blueprint for the fiscal year that starts on Oct. 1 to seek government funds for building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, the White House confirmed.

Trump, whose approval ratings have slid since he took office, is facing a Friday deadline for Congress to pass a spending bill funding the government through September or risk marking his 100th day in office on Saturday with a government shutdown.

“Now the bipartisan and bicameral negotiators can continue working on the outstanding issues,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement on Monday night.

Earlier on Monday, Schumer reiterated an assertion made last week that bipartisan negotiations in Congress were going well until the White House began demanding money for the wall as a condition for accepting a funding bill.

Although Republicans control both chambers of Congress, a funding bill will need 60 votes to clear the 100-member Senate, where Republicans hold 52 seats, meaning at least some Democrats will have to get behind it.

If no spending measure covering April 29 to Sept.

30 is in place before 12:01 a.m. (0401 GMT) on Saturday, government funds will halt and hundreds of thousands of the country’s several million federal

employees will be temporarily laid off.

Those in jobs deemed essential such as law enforcement are expected to keep working in the hope they will receive back pay. Non-essential sectors such as national parks are liable to be closed and programs such as federally funded medical research will grind to a halt.

Failure to approve a government funding bill could also throw new doubts over Republicans’ ability to fashion a budget blueprint for the next fiscal year or to succeed in a major effort to cut corporate and individual taxes that Trump has touted.

STICKING POINTS Congressional leaders will likely have to decide by late on Tuesday whether negotiations are progressing enough to try to pass a spending bill funding the government through September, Senator Roy Blunt, a member of the Republican leadership and Senate Appropriations Committee, told reporters on Monday.

If negotiations have slowed or stalled, Congress could pursue a short-term extension of existing spending levels to avoid a government shutdown, giving lawmakers more time to reach a deal. Leading Democrats have said they would support such a measure only if talks are progressing.

Short-term funding measures, known as continuing resolutions that cover periods of days, have been used to avert government shutdowns in the past. But in 2013, conservative Republicans forced a 17-day shutdown in a failed attempt to repeal former President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act, popularly known as Obamacare.

A Republican effort to repeal and replace Obamacare imploded in Congress last month and the White House said on Monday that another vote could not come for weeks. (rtr)

REUTERS/Mike Blake

Immigrant-rights advocates protest near the U.S.-Mexico border wall over a visit to the border

by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly in San Ysidro, a district of San Diego, California, U.S., April 21, 2017.

International

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Surabaya police arrest all escaping detainees

SURABAYA - The Surabaya City Police in East Java have arrested all the seven detainees who escaped from a detention cell at the Tambaksari police station a week ago.

“In less than seven days, we have arrested all the seven detainees who escaped from a detention cell at the Tambaksari police station,” Chief of the Surabaya City Police Senior Commissioner Muhammad Iqbal said here on Monday. The last detainee who was arrested was identified by his initials as MS, he stated.

MS, who was suspected of theft, was arrested on Sunday night in his hideouts in Tangkep village, Burneh sub-district, Bangkalan district, East Java, he noted.

REUTERS/Christian Vero

Demonstrators build a fire barricade on a street during a rally against Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela April 24, 2017.

Venezuela death toll rises as unrest enters fourth week CARACAS - Gunmen killed two more people during political unrest in Venezuela on Monday, bringing the total number of deaths to 12 this month, as anti-government protests entered a fourth week with mass “sit-ins” to press for early elections.

A 42-year-old man who worked for local government in the Andean state of Merida died from a gunshot in the neck at a rally in favor of President Nicolas Maduro’s government, the state ombudsman and prosecutor’s office said.

Another 54-year-old man was shot dead in the chest during a protest in the western agricultural state of Barinas, the state prosecutor’s office added without specifying the circumstances.

Seven others were injured in both places.

The latest deaths come amid a month of protests that have sparked politically-motivated shootings and clashes between security forces armed with rubber bullets and tear gas and protesters wielding rocks and Molotov cocktails.

Eleven people have also died during night-time looting.

The ruling Socialist Party accuses foes of seeking a violent coup with U.S. connivance, while the opposition says he is a dictator repressing peaceful protest.

The opposition’s main demands

are for elections, the release of jailed activists and autonomy for the opposition-led congress. But protests are also fueled by the crippling economic crisis in the oil-rich nation of 30 million people.

“I have an empty stomach because I can’t find food,” said Jeannette Canozo, a 66-year-old homemaker, who said police used rubber bullets against protesters blocking a Caracas avenue with trash and bathtubs in the early morning.

Demonstrators wore the yellow, blue and red colors of Venezuela’s flag and held signs denouncing shortages, inflation and violent crime as they chanted: “This government has fallen!”

In the capital, they streamed from several points onto a major highway, where hundreds of people sat, carrying bags of supplies, playing card games, and shielding themselves from the sun with hats and umbrellas.

In western Tachira, at another of the “sit-ins” planned for all of Venezuela’s 23 states, some played the board-game Ludo, while others played soccer or enjoyed street theater.

At protests in southern Bolivar state, a professor gave a lecture on politics while some people sat down to play Scrabble and others cooked soup over small fires in the streets. (rtr)

The other six detainees had been arrested earlier. They were identified by their initials as R, Sh, and Sa, who are suspects in a drug case; F, a suspect in a manhandling case; and J and BS, suspects in a theft case.

Iqbal praised his subordinates for their hard work which led to the arrest of the seven detainees in a week.

He set up four teams consisting of 70 personnel to hunt the detainees.

The teams were led by the chief of criminal investigation unit and the chief of the drug investigation unit at the city police.

“In addition, the chief of the Tambaksari police station also led his men in tracking the detainees,” he revealed. (ant)

11

Jakarta`s voters demonstrate democratic maturity

JAKARTA - Political tensions rode high during campaigning for the second round of Jakartas gubernatorial election (pilkada) in which Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) and Djarot Saiful Hidayat (Ahok-Djarot) paired against Anies Baswedan and Sandiaga Uno (Anies-Sandi).

Jakarta residents were divided and had heated arguments on social media regarding their candidates.

Hoax, black campaign materials, and money politics were reported during the election process, but luckily, no physical violence occurred.

On the contrary, during the polling day on Apr 19, Jakarta was peaceful, and the election was held smoothly and democratically.

According to the results of quick counts conducted by several pollsters, Anies-Sandi won the election against Ahok-Djarot.

The Jakarta General Election Commission (KPU) uploaded the results on its official website, showing 42.05 percent, or 2,351,245 votes, for the Ahok-Djarot pair, and 57.95 percent, or 3,240,332 votes, for the Anies-Sandi pair.

The number of Jakartans who voted reached 5,591,198.

A total of 64,523 joint police, military, and other security personnel were mobilized to maintain security during the election.

The National KPU has lauded the Jakarta KPU for successfully holding a peaceful pilkada.

“Earlier, several observers had expressed concerns over the media that the Jakarta pilkada had the potential to become violent,” Wahyu Setiawan, a commissioner of KPU, stated recently.

However, owing to the maturity of Jakartas residents, the recently concluded pilkada was peaceful, smooth, and democratic.

“This will become a social asset for us to organize the next simultaneous pilkada in 2018 and the presidential and legislative elections in 2019,” he noted.

The social asset is precious, as it concerns the publics trust, he emphasized.

The capability of the Jakarta KPU to provide the results of the pilkada also gained the publics trust, he remarked.

On Thursday, Apr 20, the Jakarta KPU had published the results on its official website.

The results are real, although it is not official, as the Jakarta KPU is still in the process of manual counting.

The runoff was held after no candidate pair managed to gain a majority in the first round of the Jakarta pilkada held on Feb 15, which was contested by three candidate pairs.

The three candidate pairs that took part in the election were Agus Harimurti-Sylviana Murni (AgusSylviana), Ahok-Djarot, and Anies-Sandi.

In the first round of the election, Agus-Sylviana received 17.07 percent, or 937,955 votes; Ahok-Djarot received 42.99 percent, or 2,364,577 votes; and AniesSandi received 39.95 percent, or 2,197,333 votes.

The results of the second round of the election showed that the votes for Ahok-Djarot remained the same as the first round, at some 42 percent, while the Anies-Sandi pairs votes increased from around 39 percent to 57 percent.

The victory of Anies-Sandi was due to digital volunteers who were successful in influencing the younger generation in the pilkada in Jakarta, Siti Zuhro, a senior researcher of the Political Study Center of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, pointed out.

“They have managed to present an attractive campaign package that was able to motivate netizens who are mostly young people,” she had noted in a press statement on Apr 23. (ant)

IBP/ant

During the polling day on Apr 19, Jakarta was peaceful, and the election was held smoothly and democratically.

12

International

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

BUSINESS Japan’s ageing population 80%

Points of trekking initiated by Putra Jenggala tourism awareness group (Pokdarwis) of Bindu tourism village is indeed a new one intended for beginner adventurers.

Nevertheless, all adventure hobbyist can explore it because of the cultural attractions offered must be different. “Each route passed through will give pleasure because it has a variety of cultural attractions,” said I Gusti Nyoman Suastawa, one of the trekking initiators.

French travelers had tested the challenges offered by the trekking route. They consist of female entrepreneurs and workers. A distance of about 3 km was covered within about four hours. “Wow, it’s very satisfying. Other than seeing the activities of rural communities, we also encounter small animals in the

Aged 15 to 65

40

More than 65

20

0 ’95 ’00 ’05 ’10 ’15 ’20 ’25 ’30 ’35 ’40 ’45 ’50 ’55 ’60 Projections Source: Japan Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

Staff, 19/07/2016 FILE PHOTO: People are seen at Seven & i Holdings Co’s Seven Eleven convenience store in Tokyo, Japan January 12, 2017.

REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo

Labour shortage a stress test for Japan’s 24/7 convenience stores

TOKYO - Japan’s growing labour shortage threatens the nation’s ubiquitous convenience stores, whose business model relies on an army of part-timers packing bento lunch boxes, manning cash registers and delivering goods 24/7. The big three “combini” operators 7-Eleven, FamilyMart and Lawson, which have expanded through Japan’s long slump, are scrambling to ease the pressure on franchisees by offering a mix of financial aid and labour-saving automation.

But their earnings outlook is the bleakest in years. Lawson Inc projects its first drop in profit in 15 years this fiscal year, and 7-Eleven Japan, part of Seven & i Holdings, forecasts a meager 0.2 percent increase.

Japan has around 55,000 convenience stores nationwide - roughly one for every 2,300 people - and each store needs around 20 parttimers to run it. Some shop owners struggling to fill shifts find themselves working some nights as well as during the day.

“The labour situation is starting to get health-hazardous,” said one store owner who asked not

to be identified. Restaurant chain Royal Host and McDonald’s Japan have begun moving away from 24-hour operations, but so far convenience chains aren’t reducing hours or cutting store numbers.

Indeed, all three of the major chains plan to expand. They fear that if they cut back they will lose market share and dent a reputation for catering to customers’ needs at any time.

“We are part of the social infrastructure,” said Koji Takayanagi, president of FamilyMart UNY Holdings,. “We have a mission we must fulfill.”

DWINDLING POOL As Japan’s population shrinks, its workforce has declined to 77.2 million in 2015 from a peak of 87.2 million in 1995. By 2065, it’s expected to drop to just 45.2 million.

The decline has hit labour-intensive sectors such as delivery services, restaurant chains and retailers especially hard.

The worker crunch started last year, said a Lawson franchisee in Tokyo. Foreigners, many of them university students, are taking up some of the slack, but he predicts the shortages will continue “indefinitely.” Part-time wages, meanwhile, have increased, and some convenience stores have to pay more overtime to fill shifts.

“Labour costs are rising precipitously,” Ryuichi Isaka, president of Seven & i Holdings, told a recent earnings briefing. To ease the burden on store owners, who bear payroll costs, 7-Eleven said it would, for the first time, cut royalty fees it charges franchisees - a measure

that will cost the company around 160 billion yen ($1.47 billion) a year. “We want to turn this into an opportunity to boost store owners’ management drive, and attract new owners,” Isaka said.

SAVING THE DAY? The industry hopes technology can overcome the shortfall.

7-Eleven, with 19,423 stores and 390,000 part-timers in Japan, is bringing labour-saving dishwashers to all stores this year, while Lawson is issuing tablet computers to help store management, and installing automatic change counting machines.

The industry also plans to introduce RFID (radio-frequency identification) tags that can track individual items from warehouse to store - hoping this may usher in an era of low-cost distribution networks and unmanned cash registers.

With the government pledging to help roll out the technology by

2025, 7-Eleven estimates RFID tags, which it will trial around August, could save 8 billion yen ($73 million) annually in labour costs. The increased investment in technology is partly to blame for Lawson’s forecast profit decline.

“Rather than simply focusing on increasing profits, we are critically looking at what shape Lawson should take,” said company president Sadanobu Takemasu. “By making the necessary investments we will reap the rewards.”

The labour-intensive business model is not just in the stores.

It extends to a vast network of third-party suppliers and truck crews making deliveries around the clock.

The convenience store industry was built when there were plentiful workers, says Takayuki Suzuki, analyst at Primo Research Japan.

But now it “must rationally look again at its excessive and unnecessary services.”(rtr)

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

French Travelers Explore Trekking of Bindu Village

If you are an adventurer, try to explore the trekking routes offered by Bindu tourism village, Mekar Bhuana, Abiansemal, Badung. This relatively new tourist object has a unique attraction. Aside from beautiful and pristine countryside, it also offers some activities of local culture. Visitors can join the cultural activities of the villagers.

AGE GROUP - As percentage of total population

60

Bali News

International

paddy fields. All people are very friendly and nice,” said Santrine, one of the trekking participants.

They started the trekking in front of the Bindu village hall and then visited the SDN 3 Mekar Bhuana elementary school as a form of caring for school. They had time to introduce French language to students and learn Balinese language from them. Other than the introduction of language, they also learned about Balinese dance. It was then resumed to Subak Gaga while passing the village street.

In the paddy fields, they could watch various activities of farmers starting from hoeing, mowing to harvesting traditionally. Some of them tried to involve in harvesting rice. During the journey, they also watched the animals having been

Titi Banda Statue

Denpasar City has a more magnificent and monumental icon.

After the quite amazing Sewaka Dharma Building as a public service center at Lumintang Denpasar has a magnificent and exotic building becoming the pride of the people in Denpasar, namely the Titi Banda Statue.

The grandiosely standing statue can be enjoyed by wider community at a very strategic location at the entrance to the city of Denpasar from the east. The statue was deliberately built in the median of the intersection of Jalan Bypass Ida Bagus Mantra and Jalan Bypass

Ngurah Rai because it was at strategic location.

The Titi Banda Statue told stories about the Ramayana epic, namely the character Rama who built the Titi Banda Bridge in the middle of the sea with the help of monkey troops that would pick up Sita abducted in Lanka. Titi Banda told about Rama, as the main character who would pick up her wife from the hands of Ravana in Lanka. Rama accompanied by his monkey troops consisting of 18 heads, where five of whom were chief of the monkey. Statue of Rama became the main one in the middle of the building.(kmb)

familiar with the paddy farmers such as dragonflies, lizards, snakes and birds. After that, they passed through a moor and a bridge made from coconut tree.

Then, they returned to paddy field area at the Subak Munduk Gebang.

In the area of ??Tanah Yeng healing center, participants were introduced to the technique of growing crops traditionally. Afterward, they were served with young coconut drink to refresh the body. They were also given the opportunity to have a bath in the river followed by prayascita (blessing) ritual to purify their mind in Hindu tradition.

At that moment, every trekking participant was given tridatu thread for safety. The area of Tanah Yeng healing center is especially intended for the introduction to spiritual self-purificatory process.

The journey then continued to visit Balinese house compound to see and learn mejejahitan (preparing oblation). Ultimately, the journey was ended with lunch serving traditional Balinese menus con-

sisting of satay, raw condiment, lawar (minced meat mixed with vegetables) and others.

Suastawa said that other than trekking, guests are also introduced to culture and getting in touch with residents as the real player of local culture. This program is made on the request of travel agent manage-

5

ment. “This Pokdarwis initiated the Bindu customary village trekking after receiving coaching from the Badung Tourism Office in the form of foreign language training. In the future, it will take advantage of the river at Bindu village for water tourist attraction,” he explained. (kmb)

4

Bali News

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

International

Live alone in an obsolete bamboowalled house

Wayan Kerayupan

IBP/Sosiawan

13

N.Korea stages large-scale artillery drill as U.S. submarine docks in South

Wayan Kerayupan and Ni Riri

LIFE of people at Insakan hamlet, Pedawa, Banjar, Buleleng, like Wayan Kerayupan and Ni Riri is very apprehensive. Amide their old age, they have to live alone in an old house only surrounded by bamboo wall. To survive, more often they just rely on the compassion of relatives.

When visited on Monday afternoon (Apr. 24), the house of Kerayupan is located in the middle of clove plantation. The atmosphere is very quiet. Nearby there are only two houses, but not located in one row and still limited by a patch of land. When entering the home yard, the heart will immediately be getting sad. After hearing the story, this grandfather is only living alone in a house surrounded by obsolete bamboo wall and ground floor. Inside, there are absolutely no luxurious goods at all. His bed is just wrapped in a thin and withered mattress. It is combined with green bed cloth and thin red blanket. These are only goods that can warm up his wrinkled skin.

While sitting on the porch of his house, this 77-year old grandfather does not hesitate to share the story about his life. Six months ago, his wife has gone forever. His daughters have also got married. “I live alone here because my daughters have got married,” he said.

Now, at the age that is no longer young, the life of the husband of Wayan Diasning just depends on the compassion of his relatives, especially in the matter of daily consumption. His daughters, in truth, are still paying attention. However, it cannot be done every day. “When having rice, I will cook. Otherwise, I will be given by my nephews. My daughters still remember, when falling sick I will be taken to doctor,” he said.

In the midst of a bitter life, his face still exudes toughness. Not infrequently, he can still make a joke with people that making a visit to his house.

Other than Kerayupan, similar condition is also experienced by Ni Riri, who is also a resident of Insakan hamlet. This elderly widow also spends the rest of her life in a bamboo-walled house. Based on her story, she had actually got married. However, after his husband died, she returned to the family by her stepson. In the matter of daily life needs, she must also depend on the family. “I have no children.

After my husband died, I was asked to return home,” she said.

Meanwhile, hamlet chief of Insakan, Made Sarjana, said that both residents had got enough help and one of them is the prosperous rice. Especially for house refurbishment, she has actually been proposed every year. Unfortunately, the construction is constrained by land ownership. “This resident lives on other’s land so that she cannot get the help of house refurbishment. Hopefully, this will get a solution from the government,” he said.

Both the elderly people have also been visited by the Buleleng Social Services with social care community. The aids given are in the form of grocery and some amounts of cash. In the meantime, their house is still attempted to get a follow up immediately. (sos)

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

International

SEOUL - North Korea conducted a big live-fire exercise on Tuesday to mark the foundation of its military as a U.S. submarine docked in South Korea in a show of force amid growing concern over the North’s nuclear and missile programmes.

The crowded people is praying in Besakih Temple until dawn

IBP/Bagiarta

On holiday, pilgrims throng Besakih to say prayers

AMLAPURA - Holiday is used by Hindus in Bali to say prayers to Besakih Temple in a series of Ida Bathara Turun Kabeh ritual. Pilgrims thronged Besakih Temple so that the traffic on road section to this mother temple of Bali was crowded and moved slowly. Traffic density has occurred from Saturday (Apr. 22) and was predicted to continue until Monday (Apr. 24) before entering the working day on Tuesday (Apr. 25).

Chief of Rendang Police, Nengah Berata, said that booming pilgrims on the holiday had been predicted earlier. Therefore, police together with military personnel, Karangasem transportation agency and management board of Besakih Temple take anticipatory steps. The management focuses on the pilgrim density at the temple. Meanwhile, police, military and transportation agency personnel anticipate the booming pilgrims outside the temple area. One of the measures taken outside the temple area is to increase parking area and take advantage of private home yard of local residents.

“Pilgrim density has occurred from Saturday. They are indeed booming, but they do not result in traffic congestion,” said Chief of Rendang Police, Nengah Berata.

Traffic density leading to Besakih Temple occurred at two road sections to Besakih, either from the path of Menanga from the west and from the path of Batusesa from the east. To prevent severe

congestion, police officers have been spread at the points prone to congestion. Communication and coordination are well done by the transportation agency and military personnel.

“Meanwhile, the traffic to Besakih with such booming pilgrims can be handled, but in the future it is necessary to think so that more pilgrims to Besakih should ride public transportation like bus, do not use private car,” said the Head of the Karangasem Transportation Agency, Ida Bagus Suastika.

Suastika asserted that if every year more and more Hindu pilgrims ride private cars, then the traffic density can become worse to a standstill. Right now, with the addition of some parking lots around the Besakih Temple, almost all of them have been fully occupied.

The quite extensive Kedungdung Terminal at Besakih is also fully occupied. In the future, it will be required to make new terminals and other parking lots to prevent severe congestion as happened at piodalan

or temple festival at Dalem Puri before the ritual of Ida Bathara Turun Kabeh at Besakih Temple.

Headman of Besakih, Jro Mangku Widiartha, claimed to have predicted from the beginning, there will be crowdedness on holidays when the ritual takes place. Therefore, he has appealed the pilgrims to say prayers not only during holidays, so as not to get caught in traffic. According to him, the pilgrims can take advantage of working days, by going together to Besakih riding public transportation such as buses. Crowdedness almost occurs every year in the implementation of Ida Bathara Turun Kabeh ritual.

He claimed to be grateful because Besakih already has a governing body in the ritual of this year.

Thus, the crowdedness happening every year starting this year can be slightly overcome with the support of police, military and transportation agency personnel.

Previously, Operations Manager (OM) of Besakih management board, I Ketut Sumendra, said that since the operation manager worked, the arrangement has become the main focus. As part of the arrangement, other than expediting the pilgrims to Besakih, tour guides also continuously receive training in collaboration with relevant institution in Bali. (kmb31)

The port call by the USS Michigan came as a U.S. aircraft carrier strike group steamed towards Korean waters and as top envoys for North Korea policy from South Korea, Japan and the United States met in Tokyo.

Fears have risen in recent weeks that North Korea would conduct another nuclear test or long-range missile launch in defiance of U.N. sanctions, perhaps on the Tuesday anniversary of the founding of its military.

But instead of a nuclear test or big missile launch, North Korea deployed a large number of longrange artillery units in the region of Wonsan on its east coast for a livefire drill, South Korea’s military said. North Korea has an air base in Wonsan and missiles have also been tested there.

“North Korea is conducting a large-scale firing drill in Wonsan areas this afternoon,” the South’s Office of Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.

The South Korean military was monitoring the situation and “firmly maintaining readiness”, it said.

The South’s Yonhap News Agency said earlier the exercise was possibly supervised by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. North Korea’s state media was defiant in a commentary marking the 85th anniversary of the founda-

tion of the Korean People’s Army, saying its military was prepared “to bring to closure the history of U.S. scheming and nuclear blackmail”.

“There is no limit to the strike power of the People’s Army armed with our style of cutting-edge military equipment including various precision and miniaturised nuclear weapons and submarine-launched ballistic missiles,” the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper said in a front-page editorial.

North Korea’s growing nuclear and missile threat is perhaps the most serious security challenge confronting U.S. President Donald Trump. He has vowed to prevent North Korea from being able to hit the United States with a nuclear missile and has said all options are on the table, including a military strike.

Trump sent the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier strike group for exercises off the Korean peninsula as a warning to North Korea and a show of solidarity with U.S. allies.

South Korea’s navy said it was conducting a live-fire exercise with U.S. destroyers in waters west of the Korean peninsula and would soon join the carrier strike group approaching the region.

China, North Korea’s sole major ally which nevertheless objects to its weapons development, has

South Korean Defense Ministry via AP

In this photo provided by South Korean Defense Ministry, a South Korean navy sailor watches the destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer during a joint exercises between the United States and South Korea in South Korea’s West Sea Tuesday, April 25, 2017. South Korea’s military said Tuesday that North Korea held major live-fire drills in an area around its eastern coastal town of Wonsan as it marked the anniversary of the founding of its military. repeatedly called for calm, and its envoy for Korean affairs, Wu Dawei, was in Tokyo on Tuesday.

“We hope that all parties, including Japan, can work with China to promote an early peaceful resolution of the issue, and play the role, put forth the effort, and assume the

responsibility that they should,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters in Beijing.

Japan’s envoy on North Korea, Kenji Kanasugi, said after talks with his U.S. and South Korean counterparts that they agreed China

should take a concrete role to resolve the crisis and it could use an oil embargo as a tool to press the North.

“We believe China has a very, very important role to play,” said the U.S. envoy for North Korea policy, Joseph Yun. (rtr)

EU warns Britain: Don’t assume free trade deal for the City

REUTERS/Leon Neal/Pool

Britain’s Prime Minister, Theresa May, addresses staff at a GlaxoSmithKline toothpaste factory in Maidenhead, April 21, 2017.

BRUSSELS - European Union leaders will warn Britain it cannot assume its big financial services industry will be included in any free trade deal after Brexit, diplomats said on Monday after fixing negotiating terms in a draft document.

Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May, who will open negotiations with the EU in June assuming she wins a snap election she called last week, singled out banking and other financial services among her priorities for a future trade deal with the bloc after Brexit.

But France and other member states pressed for changes to the draft at Monday’s meeting to ram home their opening position that

any deal to allow the City of London, Europe’s leading financial center, continued easy access to EU markets must bind Britain to continuing regulation and supervision by Brussels.

“The 27 will not necessarily consider financial services in a free trade agreement, as Theresa May has expected,” one said after aides to the 27 EU leaders, who will meet to agree the terms on Saturday, endorsed a draft of the so-called guidelines.

The new draft of the guidelines for EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier will be reviewed by ministers on Thursday and is expected to be signed off swiftly at Saturday’s

EU27 summit.

“There is nothing controversial in this among the 27,” a second diplomat, who took part in Monday’s talks, said. “We found a way to say things so that everybody feels safe.”

Several other participants said that, as under the previous draft, there would be no specific mention of financial services as an economic sector, but that the guidelines for Barnier would stress that any future relationship should not endanger the “financial stability” of the EU’s economy.

“Any future agreement on financial services will be subject to EU supervision and regulation,” one said. (rtr)

14

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Technology

International

Singapore researchers turn water into “virtual lemonade” but is it tart enough?

SINGAPORE - It looks like lemonade, tastes like lemonade, but it’s simply water.

Researchers in Singapore say they have invented a “virtual lemonade”, using electrodes to mimic the flavour of the beverage and LED lights to imitate its colour, that could one day allow people to digitally share drinks over the internet.

“We are primarily motivated by the fact that our current digital interactions are not supportive for sharing beverages and food, which is something very common in our everyday lives,” said Nimesha Ranasinghe, who led the team that did the research.

The team conducting the research at the NUS-Keio CUTE Center, a collaboration between the National University of Singapore and Japan’s Keio University, decided to focus on the sour taste of lemonade to prove their idea.

A sensor dipped into a glass of real lemonade collects data on its acidity and colour, which is transmitted via Bluetooth to silver electrode strips on the rim of a tumbler.

The action of a drinker running their tongue over the strip in taking a sip causes the electrodes to simu-

late the sour taste, while a light-emitting diode (LED) flashes yellow.

The technology can also simulate bitter and salty sensations, Ranasinghe said, adding that it could help people on restricted diets who need to cut back on salt or calories.

“We can even help the people who want to cut down their calorie intake,” she added. “If he craves lemonade, and can have a virtual lemonade, he can get the same experience, but zero calories.”

Still, the design needs some improvement, said student Genevieve Low, a volunteer who participated in tests of the drink.

“I think it’s definitely the way the tongue touches the cup, because no one would, sub-consciously or consciously, put their tongue onto the electrode and then drink the water,” she said in a recent test round.

Another volunteer student, Wang Pan, was surprised by the taste.

“I was imagining the electronic taste, but it’s actually quite real to me because it’s really mild, like mild-sweet. It’s less sour than the real lemonade,” she said. (rtr)

IBP/net

“Virtual lemonade”, using electrodes to mimic the flavour of the beverage and LED lights to imitate its colour, that could one day allow people to digitally share drinks over the internet.

Bali News

International

Badung designs improvement of road and sidewalk

AP Photo/Daniel Chan

Staff member of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees Izarra Azuddin displays the application “Finding Home” on her smart phone during a launch at the UNHCR headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Tuesday, April 25, 2017. The refugee agency and a Malaysian firm have launched the application aimed at raising public awareness and empathy about the worldwide struggle of refugees.

Smartphone app lets user ‘walk a mile in a refugee’s shoes’ KUALA LUMPUR — The United Nations helped launch a smartphone app Tuesday that allows users to “walk a mile in a refugee’s shoes” by simulating the daily struggles of a fictional Rohingya Muslim who was forced to flee her home.

The “Finding Home” app, developed by the advertising firm Grey Malaysia, allows users to simulate the phone of “Kathijah,” a fictional 16-year-old who fled persecution in Myanmar and is trying to make a new life in Malaysia.

Users essentially take over Kathijah’s phone, answering her calls and texts and scrolling through her photos. In one scenario, she gets a message from her brother Ishak back in Myanmar.

“Kat, r u safe?” the message says. “It was a raid, they found us.

Had to run.”

Richard Towles, the UNHCR representative in Malaysia, said he

hopes the free app will help people empathize with refugees.

“The refugee story is often a deeply personal one and difficult for people to understand,” Towles said. “We hope that this application will allow a viewer to walk a mile in a refugee’s shoes in order to understand what they go through every day in order to find safety.”

There are more than 150,000 asylum seekers and refugees in Malaysia, one of the highest numbers in Asia, according to the UNHCR. About a third of them are ethnic Rohingya Muslims, identified by the U.N. as one of the world’s most persecuted minorities, who are denied citizenship by Myanmar and chased off their land in repeated outbreaks of communal violence.

“The refugee crisis is everywhere, yet we are inevitably desensitized to it as it has been going on so long,” said Grey’s creative director, Graham Drew. (rtr)

MANGUPURA - Badung Public Works and Spatial Planning Agency (PUPR) is designing the arrangement of road infrastructure, sidewalks and drainage to beautify the look of Badung. One of the projects in the tender is sidewalk and drain on Jalan Abianbase-Tangeb with the budget of about IDR 8.9 billion as well as road improvement, drainage development and sidewalk on Jalan Aseman - Pantai with the budget of around IDR 11 billion.

Head of Bina Marga in PUPR Badung, Sang Nyoman Oka Permana, confirmed that Badung district government disbursed large budget in the effort of arranging and maintaining road, drainage and sidewalk infrastructure in the regional budget 2017.

“Indeed, a number of points have not received any improvement yet, such as in Petang and North Kuta subdistrict. However, currently we are still designing road improvement, sidewalk construction and drainage in Badung,” said Oka Permana, when confirmed on Friday (Apr. 20).

In addition to the project, the government will also improve roads and develop drainage and sidewalk on Jalan Legian KajaSunset Mergaya intersection with the budget of about IDR 17 billion, drainage and sidewalk construction on Jalan Pecatu Labuan Sait (headman office - Jalan Pura Puncak Wisesa and Labuan Sait road section) with the budget of approximately IDR 22 billion.

“Other than in Petang and North Kuta subdistrict, the road improvement, drainage and sidewalk project designed in the regional budget 2017 spread almost in all subdistricts. Now, the projects are still in tender process at the Electronic Procurement

Service (LPSE),” he explained.

According to him, the improvement program of road and drainage will pay attention to aesthetics, so that it really gives a sense of convenience to user community. “We do not build haphazardly, the aesthetics are also very concerned, so that pedestrians are comfortable to use public facilities made by government,” he said.

LPSE Badung also features tenders for road, drainage, sidewalk and parking lot of Jalan Pantai Melasti Ungasan with the budget of IDR 19 billion more, drainage development on Jalan Segara Mertha Road, Teratai, Kuta Jepun, North Medco and Jalan Nusa Indah at Segara hamlet with the budget of approximately IDR 4 billion more, the construction of drainage and sidewalk of Tanjung Benoa East Coast (Segara Lor, Segara Kidul, Segara Geni, Segara Kulon, Segara Ening and Segara Windu) with the budget of IDR 7 billion more, road improvement, drainage and sidewalk construction of Jalan Raya Kuta, Dewi Sartika, Jalan Benesari, Jalan Sorga with the budget of IDR 21 billion more.

Not only that, the government also put up tender in the LPSE for the improvement of neighborhood road in residential area. It includes Pecatu village in South Kuta subdistrict with the budget of IDR 11 billion more, Dauh Yeh Cani village (Abiansemal) with the budget of IDR 2 billion more, Punggul village (Abiansemal) with the budget of IDR 4 billion more, Benoa village (South Kuta) with the budget of IDR 16 billion more, Pelaga village (Petang) with the budget of IDR 3 billion more, and Sibang Kaja village (Abiansemal) with the budget of about IDR 3 billion. (kmb27)

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

3

Flood victims of North Banyuning

Surrender for being unable to build a house

FLASH flood disaster last February 2017 still leaves serious issues. Three family heads of the disaster victims in North Banyuning hamlet, Banyuning, Buleleng, face serious problems. After their house was swept away by flash flood, two families still stay in neighbor’s house and another stays in contracted house.

This refugee option is while looking for the promise of the government that will build a permanent house as promised before. Unfortunately, there is no certainty when the government will build the house. The three families are resigned. If this condition lasts longer they are confused because of having no money to build a house or look for a new residence.

Komang Sridana, one of the flash flood disaster victims admitted on Friday (Apr. 21) to resign after the promise of the house construction assistance is not clear when it will be realized. The man working as a caseworker has occupied a contracted house since two months ago not far from the disaster site. In the contracted house, he occupies two rooms with his wife Luh Mertasih and his son Kadek Adi Sastiawan.

Due to the narrow room, their parent Made Candri is forced to be evacuated to her neighbor’s house. “We have been two months in contracted house. The room is narrow and our parent is taking refuge to a neighbor’s house. We have not paid the contract yet but will do it after having a house,” he said.

Sridana admitted to forcibly occupy a contracted house with such restricted condition. The contracted house at his neighbor named Narda is without electricity of the PLN. This empty house has no waterworks connection, either. Inevitably, every day he and his family have to go to neighbor’s house to borrow a bathroom and ask for water to cook in the kitchen.

Meanwhile, the electricity is obtained by connecting cable to neighboring house with the purchase of credit as much as IDR 30,000 per month.

Meanwhile, his parent living in neighbor’s house also admitted to be uncomfortable. His parent known as the oblation maker cannot work comfortably in his neighbor’s house, so that the oblation order is not served. If there is an order, it is forcibly worked on at hamlet hall or his parent come to the house of the order giver.

“It is very uncomfortable. Moreover, my mother is living in a neighbor’s house and when making oblation order she does not want to disturb. Thankfully, our neighbors here are so kind and willing to give water or lend their bathroom to bathe or defecate,” he said.

Similar confession was revealed by another disaster victim, Ketut Yasa. He, his wife and four children are forced to live at his mother-in-law’s house. This family occupies a narrow room every day. Yasa and his family also feel inconvenient as living too long with their mother-in-laws. Understandably, since his family lives together the cost of electricity or water in his motherin-law sharply increases and disturbs the activity of his mother-in-law’s family. “My mother-in-law feels inconvenient as we too long live with her. Since we stay with them their burden increases,” he explained.

The only hope having been long-awaited by Sridana, Yasa and Mertada to overcome such apprehensive condition is the realization of the housing aid promised by local government. Unfortunately, the promise cannot be ascertained yet because the local government is still looking for certainty of the budget source. Currently, the three victims are resigned after getting information if the realization of the housing development assistance seemed to be transferred by the Housing, Settlements and Land Agency to the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) of Buleleng and then finally proposed to BPBD Bali.

“Previously, the land was not ready but we were urged to prepare the land. Now, when the land is ready to be built, the realization of the aid is delivered to and fro. Hopefully, the promise can be immediately realized,” he explained.

Other than there is no certainty about the construction, the disaster victims are anxious whether the value of housing construction assistance allocated at IDR 30 million per unit deducted with tax will be enough to completely build a house. Moreover, the current price of building materials and worker’s wage have increased lately so that the utilization of aid funds should be made properly in order to establish a decent house. (mud)

IBP/mud

After their house was swept away by flash flood, two families still stay in neighbor’s house and another stays in contracted house.

Implementation of e-billing at Tanah Lot only reviewed TABANAN - The insistence of the Tabanan House of Representatives so that Tanah Lot attraction implements e-billing system for visiting travelers is still inapplicable so far. Despite having conducted a comparative study, the attraction management always argues it remains in the study and waits for instruction from the chairperson of the management board (regent of Tabanan—Ed). Previously, there was discourse that this technology would be applied in this

April 2017.

“Not yet, a meeting is going to be held after the series of pujawali or festival at Tanah Lot Temple with the management board. So, please be patient,” said Operations Manager of Tanah Lot attraction, I Ketut Toya Adnyana, when confirmed on Wednesday (Apr. 19).

Further, he added that all the results of the study have been available and submitted to the regent as chairperson of the management board. Moreover, the regent planned to summon the

third party to immediately realize the implementation of e-billing at Tanah Lot attraction. However, so far the management still just waits for certainty from the management board. “We wait when it can go down. We are ready,” he said.

But to further maximize this program, the management asked at least before starting to apply there is a presentation and training for the existing ticketing personnel. According to survey result of the consultant, there are 12 links for placement.

Related to the delay of the e-billing implementation, a legislator of the Tabanan House of Representatives, I Gusti Ngurah Sanjaya, considered there is no seriousness of the government through the management board.

Moreover, he considered the decision to raise ticket price without reviewing of the existing system is a wrong measure. “Actually, the system must be repaired first, and then it is followed by the price hike of ticket,” he said.

Moreover, according to this

politician from Senganan village, Penebel, the implementation of e-billing is expected to increase the contribution to the regionally generated revenue (PAD) to the region.

As reported earlier, the circle of the Tabanan legislators has urged the management board of Tanah Lot attraction to implement the e-ticketing or e-billing system to maximize the PAD of Tabanan district. All this time, the application of manual ticket is feared to enable leakages. (kmb28)

2

Bali News

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

International

Bali not free from rabies, but already under control

DENPASAR - All this time, the Bali livestock and animal health agency (PKH) applies the data of dog population based on parameter of survey results with the average ratio of 1: 8 meaning 1 dog for 8 residents. If converted to the population of Bali amounting to some 4 million, there are about 510,000 dogs. However, to get closer to the real condition of the dog population, in 2016 the livestock and animal health agency (PKH) conducted data collection through census approach. From the census, it was obtained that a total of 716 villages are recorded to have 456,100 dogs.

Head of the Bali Livestock and Animal Health Agency, IKG Nata Kesuma, said that since the emergence of rabies cases in Bali in 2008 until now it cannot be released, though it can be controlled where the number of positive cases in dogs is fluctuating and relatively low. The decline occurred in 2016 reaching 61 percent the rabid-dog positive cases reaching 529, decreased to 206 cases in 2016, and in the past 4 months in 2017 the average decline reaches about 50

percent in the same month from the previous year. Based on the latest data until April 22, 2017, the positive cases amounted to 38 spreading in 7 districts except for Denpasar and Klungkung showed zero case.

Regular vaccination is done every year. In 2016, a total of 462,450 dogs were vaccinated of the totally 510,000 dog populations. So, the coverage of vaccination has reached 90 percent. By 90 percent, it should be able to free Bali from rabies. However, the 90 percent coverage remains cumulative in the district / municipality and has not been evenly distributed to hamlet level. “Thus, rabies cannot be freed although it can be controlled,” he said.

It happens because the existence of dogs let go wild are difficult to be caught. So, the officers finally get difficulty to vaccinate. On that account, his agency evaluates and refines the strategy with the approach to make the access of vaccination service to hamlet level by recruiting vaccination officer at village level.

The PKH agency has trained 1,432 village vaccinators for mass vaccination this year. “The vaccinators have a duty to vaccinate door-to-door late in the afternoon in

the hope the dog owners are at home as well as their raised dogs let go wild have averagely returned home,” he said.

Mass vaccination to be held on April 28 to July 31 is an agenda for mass rabies vaccination in Bali. The PKH has changed its strategy from the previous year. It is done by providing knowledge of management for 57 veterinarians of animal health center in each subdistrict to more optimally use the resources and encourage greater community participation. Other than serving as technical coordinator at subdistrict level, they also serve as village vaccination officer.

Implementation of the mass rabies vaccination in 2017 involved three teams where A-team is in charge of vaccinating wild dogs and dogs let go wild; regular team in charge of vaccinating easy-to-handle dogs; and village vaccination team is in charge of combing especially in the afternoon because most dog owners are usually at home and the people’s dogs let go wild will have been back home late afternoon until evening. With this strategy, all the dogs can be vaccinated, and the rabies free-Bali is becoming easier to be realized. (kmb42)

Destination arrangement

Central govt disburses fund at IDR 2.5 billion SINGARAJA - The arrangement of a number of tourist destinations in Buleleng district is planned to be rolled back this year. It follows the existence of the special allocation fund (DAK) from the central government amounting to billions of rupiahs. This physical project has entered the tender stage.

Head of the Buleleng Tourism Office, Nyoman Sutrisna, explained that the tourist destination arrangement in Buleleng is carried out continuously every year. Especially for this year, the program has received support from central government in the form of disbursement of DAK amounting to IDR 2.5 billion. As planned, it will be shared for the physical arrangement of a number

of tourist destinations.

In details, they include the making of 17 changing rooms and or toilets scattered in the former harbor of Buleleng, Banjar hot spring, Sambangan, Pemuteran and Air Sanih with a total budget of IDR 1,105,000,000; the installation of garden lighting at the tourist attraction of former harbor of Buleleng, Buyan and Air Sanih with a total budget of IDR 520 million. In addition, the development of supporting facilities in the form of souvenir kiosks at the former harbor of Buleleng and Pemuteran are valued at IDR 750 million, and development of tourist information center and equipment at Sambangan vil-

lage with the budget of IDR 125 million.

“It is entirely obtained from the DAK fund. It will be allocated for the arrangement of tourist destinations and some amount will be given to tourism villages,” he explained on Monday (Apr. 24). The project, he continued, has entered the tender stage. As planned, it is expected to be realized next July.

“Now, it remains in tender process through direct appointment,” he explained.

Arrangement and addition of the facility are considered very important because the objects are still experiencing shortages. On the other side, the number of tourist visit is considered to be crowded,

especially when holiday arrives.

“Aside from the effort to create comfort, it also serves as one of the ways to increase the number of visits,” he said.

Further, in order that the arrangement measure does not seem wasteful, the coaching of human resources in each tourist destination also rolls out. “This arrangement should be supported by the community and the management must be implemented well,” he said.

Especially for the condition of tourism village, he said to have been running well. The tourist visit is also quite crowded.

Moreover, these tourist destinations are touted to have given a

significant impact on the target of tourist visits set by the government every year. “To develop it, we continuously do promotion, not only through the event in the region, but also outside the region,” he said.

Based on the latest data, the number of tourism villages in Buleleng district has reached ten locations. Considering its function is also important for the economic development of the community, eight more locations will be added this year. “The eight locations have been researched in collaboration with Undiksha. If they can be included in the tourism village, tourism will be more varied,” he said. (kmb45)

Deported from Turkey

Indonesians suspected of being related to ISIS fostered in Jakarta DENPASAR - Three Indonesian citizens with the initials AR, 20, from Kerawang, BSIR, 48, from Tasikmalaya and ZZG, 17, were deported from Turkey and arrived at Ngurah Rai Airport, Tuban, at 21:40 on Friday (Apr. 21).

Allegedly, they are linked to ISIS network, and on Sunday (Apr. 23) they were taken to Jakarta.

“Having been examined at Bali police headquarters by Special

Detachment 88, they were flown to Jakarta for deradicalisation training, leaving at 23:00 by Sriwijaya Air,” said Spokesperson of Bali Police, Hengky Widjaja, on Monday (Apr. 24).

The three men boarded the Emirates with flight number EK398 from Dubai to Denpasar. After that, they got off the plane to the immigration counter for passport stamp. By immigration officers,

they were taken to the immigration office at international arrival to be questioned by personnel of the Special Detachment 88.

Based on the result of the interrogation, they claimed to depart from Bali to Jakarta by Garuda Indonesia. From Jakarta to Turkey, they flew the Turkish Airlines on March 28 and arrived in Turkey on March 29. Upon arriving there, they were immediately detained by

Turkish police for 20 days on the grounds that their documents were incomplete. “During their detention, they were given bread twice a day,” he said.

BSIR said that he took his son, ZZG, who got married to AR (Dec. 2016) and went to Turkey to enjoy their honeymoon. However, they cannot present the documents of marriage or marriage certificate.

Subsequently, they were deported from Turkey because their documents were incomplete. Originally, they were going to be back to Indonesia on April 27, 2017, but forwarded (deported) on April 20, 2017 for not carrying complete documents. After the interrogation, they immediately brought

by Special Detachment 88 to Bali police for further examination. (kmb36)

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Activities

International

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

15

Earth Day 2017 Dedicated to Education at Bali Safari & Marine Park

“Earth Day”– the day dedicated each year to protecting and preserving planet earth – was celebrated in Bali, as in years past, by inviting children from orphanages across the Island to participate in a range of activities led by members of the Park’s Education Team intended toinstill a sense of care and concern for the natural envi-

ronment. The children, spending a fun-filled day at the 40-hectare park that is home to more than 60 species, were challenged during their visit to create attractive handicrafts made from recycled materials and invited to watch a demonstration by the Safari Ranger Team creating paper made from “recycled” elephant dung. During the tour, the children

EVERY MONDAY Movie Monday19:00-21:00 Genius Cafe- Home to the entrepreneur Beach CLub Mertasari Beach (Next to Mercure), Sanur EVERY TUESDAY Ecstatic contact dance: Transformative journey Paradiso Ubud, Jalan Goutama Selatan, Ubud 100k includes dinner EVERY WEDNESDAY DEep Dive Dance Guided improvised movement 19:00-21:00 Paradiso Ubud Jalan Goutama Selatan, Ubud 100k EVERY THURSDAY African Drums with Catur SAng Klang Wijaya 16:00-18:00 Experience the healing power of drumming, all levels welcome

BY DONATION SUNDAY MARKETS 10AM 1PM Sunday Market at Batu Jimbar Jl. Danau Tablingan , Sanur 10AM-4PM The Sands Beach Club and Restaurant Sunday MArket Jl. Danau Tamblingan, No 27, Sanur 9:30AM-1PM Sunday Market @ Warung Sopa Jl. Sugriwas no36, Padang Tegal, Ubud 9AM-2PM Samadi Sunday Market Jalan. Padang Linjong 39, Canggu, 9AM-2PM Wednesday and Sunday Ubud Organik Market Jl. Raya Pengosekan across from Zens Hotel Tebesaya, Ubud 12PM-10PM Sunday Food Festival & Bazaar Byrdhouse Beach Club, Sanur 10AM-6PM, Mercure,last sunday of every month, jl. ,Mertasari, Sanur, fashion food and and kids activities The Coffee Spot, Jalan Peigenet 888X,Seminyak, last Sunday of every month, garage sale clothing, books, and hand-made jewellery

learned of the many “green initiatives” underway at the Bali Safari & Marine Park obtaining, along the way, a greater appreciaition for Mother Earth and the delicate ecosystem in which we all live.

The “Green Safari” undertaken by the large group of young guests represents just one of many commitments by the Bali Safari & Marine Park that helps to educated the public on what can be done to support and popularize campaigns for environmental sustainability.

Committed to serving both the local and world community, the Park seeks to promote the mantra of “reducing, recycling and reusing” in order to limit the volume of trash

despoiling the environment.

Before leaving the Park, the children made a stop at the “pledge tree” to write down and hang on its branches a personal promise to the planet for a greener tomorrow.

The Operational Manager of the Bali Safari & Marine Park, Ketut Suardana, commented that the activities hosted by the Educational Team for the visiting children increases environmental awareness in keeping with the Park’s mission statement of “A Green Safari is a Cleaner Bali.” Adding: “The celebration of Earth Day is important and deserves everyone’s support.

We all have an obligation to participate in efforts to safeguard our

only home – the planet earth. We hope that initiatives such as these can make a meaningful contribution to the natural environment of Bali.

We remain active participants in creating a ‘Green Living’ culture – a beautiful and sustainable society that can be enjoyed for generations to come.”

“Earth Day” is recognizedat the Bali Safari & Marine Park and around the globe every April 22nd as a day to recommit our support to protect and preserve the environment.

“Earth Day” was first celenrated in 1970 and is today managed on a global basis by the Earth Day Network that coordinates activites in more than 192 countries.

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

16 Pages Number 77 9th year

Price: Rp 3.000,-

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Caitlyn Jenner talks of suicide, secrets in new book

NEW YORK — Caitlyn Jenner opened up Monday about her frank new memoir detailing her now 2-year-old transition and the bumps along the way, including her three failed marriages, thoughts of suicide while she was relentlessly pursued by paparazzi and, finally, freedom to be her true self.

And, yes, contrary to the thoughts of many in the trans community, she uses her former name, Bruce, in the book, “The Secrets of My Life,” out this week. And, yes, she describes her liberating, below-the-belt gender reassignment surgery — “The Final Surgery” as she calls it — on the very last page, insisting it’s the last word for her about that.

And yes, she takes on, briefly, her conservative political views when it comes to President Donald Trump and issues like less government, but not so on issues important to the LGBTQ community as a whole, such as same-sex marriage.

She voted for Trump nevertheless, though she feels let down by him and the party in Trump’s first 100 days.

“Yeah, I’ve gotten criticized because I come from a more conservative Republican side, but my loyalties are not with the Republi-

can Party. My loyalties are not with Donald Trump. I’m not a one-issue voter. I believe in limited government. I like lower taxes. I like a thriving economy. I like everybody working, but my loyalties are with my community and to make it better,” Jenner said.

Why go to any of these places to begin with months after her formal coming out interview with Diane Sawyer on ABC, watched by 17.1 million viewers, then on the cover of Vanity Fair, and finally her now-canceled reality show on E! Entertainment, “I Am Cait,” where she went on the road with fellow members of the trans community.

“I needed to pour my heart out on everything,” the 67-year-old Jenner told The Associated Press of the book. “What I was trying to accomplish is, one, get it all out for myself, so there was no other secrets left, but two, it was the way

I dealt with my stuff.”

The book, co-written by Buzz Bissinger (he wrote the Vanity Fair story), has already brought on bitter, hurt tears from Jenner’s third wife, Kris Jenner, whose closet Caitlyn once regularly raided as she stole moments to cross dress while struggling with her gender identity.

They are moments, Caitlyn said, that Kris was well aware of before “I made love to her” after the two met in 1990.

“To be honest with you I haven’t even talked to her about it,” Jenner said of Kris’ reaction to the book.

There were many dark times for the Olympic gold-medal winning decathlete as he went about hiding his gender struggles, including a false start in transitioning in the 1980s.

Jenner took hormones, then balked at that time, but her enlarged breasts did not disappear after the treatments stopped, requiring liposuction as she continued living as a man.

There was one moment in particular, years later, that took Jenner to the ultimate dark place, suicide.

The celebrity news site TMZ distributed a photo of a disheveled Jenner emerging from a doctor’s office after a procedure to have her trachea shaved so she could appear more like a woman. This was before Diane Sawyer and her formal coming out, and it felt like a painful, forced outing.

“It got to the point where I thought, you know what, I know the easy way out,” Jenner said. “I got a gun in the house. ... But then the next day I thought, wouldn’t that be the stupidest thing you’ve ever done, to silence your voice?

You have the opportunity here to really make a difference, to live your life honestly.” (ap)

REUTERS/Neil Hall/Illustration/File Photo

Elton John recovering from ‘potentially deadly’ bacterial infection

REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo

Singer Elton John performs at the Hillary Victory Fund “I’m With Her” benefit concert for U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, March 2, 2016.

LONDON - Elton John spent two nights in intensive care with a potentially deadly bacterial infection and has canceled all his concerts for the rest of April and May, his publicist said on Monday.

The British musician, 70, became “violently ill” on a flight home from his recent South American tour, spokeswoman Fran Curtis said in a statement.

The “Rocket Man” singer spent two nights in intensive care in the UK and is resting at home after being released on Saturday, the

statement said.

The infection was not identified, but the statement said John contracted the “harmful and unusual bacterial infection” during his South American tour, which ended in Chile on April 10.

“Infections of this nature are rare and potentially deadly,” the statement said, adding that his time in intensive care was followed by an “extended stay in hospital.”

John is expected to make a full recovery but has canceled all his concerts in Las Vegas for April and

May, as well as a gig in Bakersfield, California, on May 6.

John apologized to fans for disappointing them, adding in a statement: “I am extremely grateful to the medical team for their excellence in looking after me so well.” He is due to resume performances at a concert in Twickenham, England, on June 3.

John, a Grammy, Oscar and Tony winner for his work in film and theater, is working on a score for a Broadway musical adaptation of the comedy-drama “The Devil Wears Prada.” (rtr)

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FILE PHOTO - A photo illustration shows the Uber app logo displayed on a mobile telephone, as it is held up for a posed photograph in central London, Britain August 17, 2016.

Uber, France spar over whether company is a transport service

LUXEMBOURG - U.S. ride-hailing app Uber told Europe’s top court on Monday that it was a digital service, not a transport service, and that a French law clearly targeted online taxi services, in its latest European legal battle with the taxi industry.

Uber expanded into Europe five years ago and has come under attack from taxi companies who see it as unfair competition bypassing strict licensing and safety rules.

In a hearing in Europe’s top court in Luxembourg, the U.S. start-up described itself as a digital platform connecting willing passengers with drivers and said it does not itself provide a transport service, which would see it subjected to stricter rules.

Hugues Calvet, Uber’s lawyer, compared it to online hotel booking services like Booking.com, saying they did not actually provide the room.

“In fact it doesn’t give the transport service itself,” Calvet said.

The case before the Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ), referred to it by a court in Lille, concerns a 2014 French law on taxis and chauffeured services which makes it a criminal offence to organise illegal taxi services and sets restrictions on the use of software to find customers in the street.

Two of Uber’s executives in France were fined last year over UberPOP, Uber’s service using unlicensed drivers, which has since been suspended.

Uber, as well as the European

Commission, also argued that the French law targeted electronically provided taxi services and therefore Brussels ought to have been notified about it. EU law requires that Brussels be informed of measures relating to online services.

France did not notify Brussels of its law and as such criminal penalties cannot be enforced against Uber, the company argued. It is the second case concerning Uber that the Luxembourg judges will rule on, the other being a dispute with Barcelona’s main taxi operator in which the ECJ is asked whether Uber is a digital service or a transport service.

“PRETTY BIG NUT” The legal tests stand to define whether the Silicon Valley company has a future in Europe after years of battles with city regula-

tors and local taxi associations. Its service has been banned in several countries or cities around Europe after the company lost lawsuits in France, Germany, Belgium and Spain. The court battles come as Uber struggles with a wave of executive departures and criticism of its work culture.

Referring to the penalties foreseen in the French law, Calvet said a “sledgehammer has been used to crack a nut.”

Tayeb Ismi-Nedjadi, a lawyer for the taxi driver who brought the original case, replied that Uber was no small company, so “when we’re talking about using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, we’re talking about a pretty big nut.” Uber is valued at $68 billion and its investors include Goldman Sachs and GV, formerly known as Google Ventures .

France said its law was not aimed at online services and would also have targeted people meeting travellers at airports and touting illegal taxi rides.

Joanna Hottiaux, a lawyer for the European Commission, said it was hard to imagine that people touting illegal taxi services could be so widespread as to require specific legislation. An ECJ adviser will give a non-binding opinion on the case on July 4. The case is C-320/16.(rtr) News can also be heard in “Bali Image” at Global Radio FM 96.5 from 9.30 until 10.00 am. Listen to Global Radio FM at http:// globalfmbali.listen2myradio.com or live video streaming at http:// radioglobalfmbali.com and http:// ustream.tv/channel/global-fm-bali.